How many births must we pass before a dramatic fundamental hits home? The essence of maya is deception. Can we really accept that? Troubled by our mind, harassed by our senses, we allow the illusory energy to dupe us.
Here's the common scenario:
"I'm so tired of battling my mind's agitation. Maybe if I just surrender somewhat to the dictations, the reaction won't be so bad.
"When I peer out at the world through my senses, though I know I'm probably seeing topsy turvy, still, the dedicated slaves of the material energy—those folks completely in maya—seem more peaceful.
"They don't have to fight the agitations; they've surrendered, in blissful ignorance. Even though I have access to superior knowledge, I wonder how long can I resist."
Don't judge a book by its cover, or a car by its color. Turn the pages of material existence, lift up its hood, the bonnet—you'll find a pathetic mess.
For a bhakti practitioner, agitations stand out in high contrast, as a black spot does on a white cloth, or a black cloud in a clear blue sky. Therefore they can seem so intimidating to a spiritual practitioner.
For those unfortunate souls lost in the illusory energy, however, the whole of life—all of the cloth, all of the sky—is a 100% agitation. You see, any semblance of peace is at best uneasy, tenuous, and laced with anxiety.
In other words, there are no lasting, significant patches of blue to break up the thick covering of storm clouds covering the entire sky.
"Both the lowest of fools and he who is transcendental to all intelligence enjoy happiness, whereas persons between them suffer the material pangs." (S. bhag. 3.7.17)
HH Devamrta Swami
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