Somebody asked me the other day, what is “Maya” and I remembered the story of Narada.
Narada is known as one of the great sages in the Hindu tradition. It is said that he still lives today, as a celestial being, who wanders between the worlds, singing.
One day while Narada was meditating, he became so still, and he could see that this world is nothing but an illusion, or Maya. The clarity had come to him so deeply. He went to his guru (spiritual teacher), Lord Vishnu, and said, “O’ Gurudev, I have overcome Maya. I can see that the world is transient and nothing but an illusion.
Lord Vishnu said, “Oh, very good. Come, take a walk with me in the forest. As they set out into the forest, Vishnu turned to Narada, and said, “I’m feeling a little thirsty. I’m going to sit under this tree. Could you go and fetch me some water from that pond over there?”
Narada went to the pond and bent down to dip his pot in and collect some water. As he was standing up, across the pond he saw a beautiful maiden coming out of the water, her wet clothes clinging to her body. Narada became totally lost in her beauty.
He approached her, saying “Who are you? What are you doing here in this wilderness by yourself?” The maiden responded, “Oh, I live here – my house is right there.” Narada, so taken by her beauty and sweetness, fell in love with her on the spot, and exclaimed “I would like to spend the rest of my life with you!”
The maiden said, “Yes – that sounds wonderful. But first you’ll have to ask my father.” Narada went to meet her father and requested permission to marry the maiden. The father said, “Yes – you can marry my daughter, but you’ll have to live with us and help me manage our property here.” Narada agreed.
Narada and the maiden were married and they started living a happy life together. As the years passed, they had seven children together and their family was thriving. Then one day, a great flood came to the area. Their house and property were destroyed. Then Narada’s first son drowned, then the second. Then the third, fourth, fifth, sixth, and seventh son. All of Narada’s children drowned in the flood. Then his wife drowned and Narada was left alone.
Narada fell down weeping, “Oh, my God, I have lost everything.” After some time, there was a little tap on his shoulder. “Narada, where is my water?”
Such is the nature of Maya. Narada became so caught up in his worldly life that he totally forgot about God and what he had come there to do!
Everything that we do in this life, all our struggles, all our dramas will pass. Anything that passes, anything that is transient, is not real. On this stage of life, we play so many roles, like an actor. We put on so many different kinds of costumes, and play the role of mother, father, husband, wife, son, daughter, friend. But who am I? Who is the one who is playing all those roles, identifying with each one of those, and each of those acts have their own drama.
What is real – that which is constant, which is always there? That is the Self, with a capital S. Identify with that.
The blue sky is always there. Clouds come and go. Sometimes the clouds stay for weeks and we get totally overwhelmed by them. We are not even aware of the blue sky that is behind them. But it doesn’t mean that it’s not there. It’s there.
Thinking about that blue sky, thinking about that part of the self which is beyond my drama, which is beyond what I’m so consumed by, which is right in front of me – even thinking about that can be called a spiritual practice.
Yes, we are born, we have our struggles, we have our challenges, our celebrations and all those things. What gives us strength to go through it all is not losing the sight of that which is always there.
Some traditions say, “It’s all maya, don’t pay any attention to the world.” In my tradition, we recognize that Maya has its place – but know that it is not everything. Be human; go through your emotions, go through your fears, go through your struggles – embrace them. Do not deny them, but leave a little space to know that there is something more to your life.
Just knowing that is freedom.
