The literal definition of Maya is "magic" or
"illusion," with the sense of a magic performance or illusion in
which items seem to be there but are not.
Maya is a term used in Hindu philosophy to explain how
people get perplexed about the actual nature of the universe and themselves.
Such delusion keeps them bound to their wants and
perpetuates the cycle of rebirth (samsara) that results from this; nonetheless,
such individuals are blissfully unconscious of their enslavement.
Maya is often regarded as one of God's powers in Hindu
theism, in which the highest power is viewed as a deity, and through which the
deity may achieve his or her intentions; in this conception, maya is considered
as an existing reality.
The Advaita Vedanta school, which advocates for monism,
approaches maya in a somewhat different way.
Behind everything, according to Monism, is an one Ultimate
Reality known as the unqualified Brahman.
Despite appearances of diversity and variation, the only thing
that really exists is this formless, unqualified Brahman.
The presupposition of variety, according to Advaitins, is a
basic misunderstanding of the ultimate essence of things.
God wields maya as a power, according to the Advaita school,
but since God (as a being with specific traits) is considered lower than the
greatest, ultimate Brahman, both God and maya are part of this lower reality.
As a result, both are unquestionably unreal.
Maya, according to the Advaitins, is confusion caused by a
lack of accurate knowledge; the confusion vanishes when absolute emancipation
is attained.
You may also want to read more about Hinduism here.
Be sure to check out my writings on religion here.
