Appearances are Deceptive?

  The contentious issue in philosophical teachings is the deceptive world appearing as real and people feeling disappointed even after achieving what they desired. But,this is not so in spiritual experience since the spiritual seekers get the clear idea about the 'true nature' of the phenomenal transient world and feels happy discarding it. There is no question of disappointment to any spiritually attained person.There are volumes and volumes of literature on this contentious issue. Ever since the doctrine of 'neti, neti' ('not this, nit this') was presented by Sri Shankaracharya, there has been an unending discussion and many have criticized this view of 'The illusory world'. In fact, when one discards all that is an adjunct, a part, a support or upadhi what remains is the truth, 'brahmn'. Brahmn is the only sat existence and all else exist as the manifest forms of 'brahmn' only. sarvam khaluvidam brahma |. 

   What exactly is meant by "illusory world"? It is the transient, ever changing nature of the objective world that comes within the grip of time, space, and causality. It is.the phenomeanl objective world, including the jivarashi, that are subject to continuous change.All that is found on this earth  goes on changing from time to time and, finally gets dissipated. We know how uranium becomes lead and how a person grows old and dies! Almost all the people have died in a state of total disappointment despite occupying highest position in public offices. Nothing is certain here since everything is subject to change.This transient nature is called 'maya'. The syllables 'ma' and 'ya' also mean that which comes within measurement (of time and space). It also means that which is reduced to nothingness by time (ya and ma)! There is nothing certain about anything we see, touch, feel here! Thus, the Upanishadic doctrine of 'neti neti' is based on practical experience. 

   What the protagonists of  'a areal world' argue that there is nothing illusory about the world that appears to us and what we experience is real. There is absolutely no doubt about this since our understanding about the material world is definitely real. This is called idam sat. This is true now and here; however, this is not true for all times to come. A person feels disappointed when he finds that anything he so ardently desired and worked for turns out to be not that he wanted. Then what is that he desired? We do not realize the fact that there is a time gap between the time we desired and the time when we achieved or attained it. This time eats away all the joy of attainment!

   What is true, real, permanent or eternal is that which gives a joy for ever. This joy is true since it does not end with time! All the joy and happiness that we get without any external support, upadhi, is real and true happiness. This is the joy, happiness that sprouts from the heart for no reason.