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03-01-2020, 04:08 AM
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Master
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: God's House
Posts: 12,235
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Maya is not neutral.
Having observed the physical world and maya for many years it has become clear that it is not a neutral force. In many ways it is a deeply malevolent force. I am not surprised that Christians believe in the devil. Maya behaves as though it is the devil.
It tries it's best to undermine, scare and disappoint us in as many ways as possible without being so obvious about it.
__________________
The Humility, the Pride and the Humiliation.
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12-01-2020, 04:28 AM
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Master
Join Date: Nov 2015
Posts: 10,861
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Honza
Having observed the physical world and maya for many years it has become clear that it is not a neutral force. In many ways it is a deeply malevolent force. I am not surprised that Christians believe in the devil. Maya behaves as though it is the devil.
It tries it's best to undermine, scare and disappoint us in as many ways as possible without being so obvious about it.
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Namaste
According to beliefs which are common across many religious traditions, there are those things which draw us closer to God, goodness, our Divine Nature and those which distract, detract, derail and distance our awareness further away from it.
In the Christian tradition, this is personified as the antithesis of all that is "holy" and is called "Satan" or "Devil" as something to be avoided and admonished if one is to consider themselves to be "on the correct path" according to the scriptures.. that is what Hindus call Dharma.
Whilst Hinduism doesn't personify Maya in this way, it also can be seen as being 'evil' if it facilitates the understanding that the material universe isn't all there is to existence, so Maya in itself is still neutral, but the perception of Maya in relation to that which is not Maya can be seen with the Dualistic awareness of being malevolent or hostile if the alternative is seen as being benevolent or peaceful.
Maya is an aspect of Shakti (Goddess) who can be Kali or Saraswati... depending upon the way she is viewed and perceived.
I often see Maya as a "malevolent force" designed to keep humanity in ignorance, however, she can also be a liberating force when one comes to realise it.
Aum Namah Shivaya
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23-01-2020, 11:19 AM
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Master
Join Date: Feb 2014
Posts: 1,304
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Honza
Having observed the physical world and maya for many years it has become clear that it is not a neutral force. In many ways it is a deeply malevolent force. I am not surprised that Christians believe in the devil. Maya behaves as though it is the devil.
It tries it's best to undermine, scare and disappoint us in as many ways as possible without being so obvious about it.
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As per the Prajapita Brahmakumaris, Maya's role is in weakening a person by bringing forgetfulness of God through the vices of lust, greed,anger, egoism and attachments.
Remembrance of God through meditation results in strengthening and inculcating a virtuous behavior.
As this is the Kali Yuga, Maya is in a dominant position due to the predominance of the element of Tamas, and much austerity is needed for the remembrance of God and cultivation of virtues or performing virtuous actions.
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When even one virtue becomes our nature, the mind becomes clean and tranquil. Then there is no need to practice meditation; we will automatically be meditating always. ~ Swami Satchidananda
Wholesome virtuous behavior progressively leads to the foremost.~ Buddha AN 10.1
If you do right, irrespective of what the other does, it will slow down the (turbulent) mind. ~ Rajini Menon
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26-01-2020, 01:57 PM
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Master
Join Date: Apr 2018
Location: Everywhere... and Nowhere
Posts: 6,647
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Honza
Having observed the physical world and maya for many years it has become clear that it is not a neutral force. In many ways it is a deeply malevolent force. I am not surprised that Christians believe in the devil. Maya behaves as though it is the devil.
It tries it's best to undermine, scare and disappoint us in as many ways as possible without being so obvious about it.
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Is it really a malevolent force or are we the ones that make it so..
Can ''maya'' be equated with the physical or are they two different things?
Do not religions such as Christianity and Hinduism talk about *paradisical* eras here on Earth?
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26-01-2020, 08:50 PM
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Master
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: God's House
Posts: 12,235
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The way I see it is that maya is heavy on the ego or the 'I'. It forces the ego upon us. Which has detrimental effects.
__________________
The Humility, the Pride and the Humiliation.
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26-01-2020, 09:53 PM
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Deactivated Account
Join Date: Jan 2014
Posts: 8,748
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This mirrors gnostic thought and the concept of the demi-urge.
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28-01-2020, 10:38 AM
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Master
Join Date: Apr 2018
Location: Everywhere... and Nowhere
Posts: 6,647
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Quote:
Originally Posted by LadyMay
This mirrors gnostic thought and the concept of the demi-urge.
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It does, in a way.
But in Dharmic religion the ''maya'' seems like it's ''working as intended'' and offering us a kindergarten of sorts to live out our ''karma'', whereas in Gnosticism it is a conscious and deliberate act of a personal god that put us against our will in a world of suffering.
Correct me if wrong.
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30-01-2020, 02:54 PM
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Master
Join Date: Oct 2010
Posts: 6,087
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ajay00
As per the Prajapita Brahmakumaris, Maya's role is in weakening a person by bringing forgetfulness of God through the vices of lust, greed,anger, egoism and attachments.
Remembrance of God through meditation results in strengthening and inculcating a virtuous behavior.
As this is the Kali Yuga, Maya is in a dominant position due to the predominance of the element of Tamas, and much austerity is needed for the remembrance of God and cultivation of virtues or performing virtuous actions.
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Kali Yuga...chrissake...sux for us, eh?
May I ask...could you (or Shivani or someone) enlighten us with some background on this Kali Yuga age -- characteristics, trends, when it began (roughly) and how long it might be (if that's known)?
I'm trying to mine the wisdom of the ages here...as clearly, there certainly IS a predominance of Tamas and austerity, discipline, ownership, and temperance certainly ARE (seemingly) at an all-time low, LOL...
Thank you
Peace & blessings and namaste to one and all --
7L
__________________
Bound by conventions, people tend to reach for what is easy.
Here we must be unafraid of what is difficult.
For all living beings in nature must unfold in their particular way
and become themselves despite all opposition.
-- Rainer Maria Rilke
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30-01-2020, 04:02 PM
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Moderator
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: Southwest, USA
Posts: 25,117
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Maya is a force?
Maya is this place - the dream - the Illusion.
Well, it has the 'force', (I call it the 'job', it's purpose), of being such a magnificent illusion that we actually think it's REAL!!!!
Biggest illusion ever...God the Master Magician...or is it all the projection of our beliefs? Potato - tomato.
So what's the real force? I'd say our minds, our thoughts, our beliefs!!
Good one, Altair - Is it really a malevolent force or are we the ones that make it so..
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.*I'll text in Navy Blue when I'm speaking as a Mod. :)
Prepare yourself for the coming astral journey of death by daily riding in the balloon of God-perception.
Through delusion you are perceiving yourself as a bundle of flesh and bones, which at best is a nest of troubles.
Meditate unceasingly, that you may quickly behold yourself as the Infinite Essence, free from every form of misery. ~Paramahansa's Guru's Guru.
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30-01-2020, 06:19 PM
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Deactivated Account
Join Date: Jan 2014
Posts: 8,748
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Altair
It does, in a way.
But in Dharmic religion the ''maya'' seems like it's ''working as intended'' and offering us a kindergarten of sorts to live out our ''karma'', whereas in Gnosticism it is a conscious and deliberate act of a personal god that put us against our will in a world of suffering.
Correct me if wrong.
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Not all Gnosticism sees the demiurge as evil, maybe more just misguided or unenlightened and not purposely causing harm... That is also one of the thoughts of NeoPlatonism I believe which Gnosticism was originally based on.
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