"Accurate Knowledge" and the nature of illusion

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The waters in a river continually flow away, and their place is taken up by fresh water, but every time we look at the river, we feel that it is the same water that has been seen earlier. Like this, day in and day out, the world also continually changes. Old things are destroyed and are replaced by new things, but we feel that they are the same as that which was seen previously. This is because we never "think." Every time we see the world, we see it only as it appears at that particular point in time, but it seems to be just as it was before. It is only through proper thinking, that you will come to know that the world is but a representation of Brahman, otherwise, all that is seen, is illusion (Maya). To exist as a mere image of flesh and blood (the body), and to be related to someone as his or her father, son, mother, etc. is indeed shameful in that all of these are but wrong concepts. However, no one feels ashamed to claim possession of such a body, which is only full of dirt.

The origination of illusion brings infinite sorrows, and its destruction brings untold joy. Illusion helps the world go on, as it veils the Self. How can it be destroyed? Just as one who is fat and huge is sure to die early, so is it with illusion. Although it is huge, illusion is destroyed easily by "right thought." This is because it is only wrong thinking which has brought it into existence.

"Accurate knowledge" helps one acknowledge and think about that which truly exists. If you view with accurate knowledge, you will not see the universe at all. The moment you are armed with accurate knowledge, you will witness that the universe is destroyed. With the help of accurate knowledge, illusion is wiped out and the Self is attained. In the same way that fuel makes a fire burn vigorously, so does "wrong thought" gives rise to illusion. Repetition of mantras, rituals, etc. only serve to support the illusion. Delusion cannot be wiped out without "right thought." There is no remedy that can prove a dream untrue. It only becomes untrue when you wake up. It is only by correct seeing, and then understanding, that the illusion can be destroyed. All other attempted methods are useless. Just as the delusion that turns a rope into a snake is destroyed by correct seeing, so is the illusory world destroyed by understanding.

Joys and sorrows in this world do not actually depend on material objects, they depend upon one’s thoughts. All objects are constantly subject to innumerable changes and therefore untrue, whereas that which is true never changes or gets destroyed. The truth is unaffected by the past, present, and the future, while illusion can be destroyed by thought and is thereby proved to be untrue.

Brahman is obvious and apparent. It shines forever. It is eternal. It is infinite. This is not so with illusion, as "accurate knowledge" can destroy illusion and at the same instant reveal Brahman. Illusion is not true, however it appears to exist and therefore one hesitates to dismiss it outright. Its nature is dreamlike and cannot be easily described by words.

In speech, we use words to tell us whether a thing "is" or "is not," saying that something is "true" or "not true." But, what can be said about illusion? Illusion is that which from the beginning was not, that which never came to be, and that which is untrue. Nevertheless, it is seen, just as a mirage is seen. In this world, an object cannot simultaneously be and not be, or in other words, it cannot be true as well as untrue. Truth can never be untrue, yet illusion is strangely unique as it can neither be true nor completely dismissed as untrue, while by nature it is untrue. It is indescribable, while you need not try to describe it either. Its nature is like a dream. The moment you say that a dream is untrue, it vanishes. Yet, all the same it still appears.

Shri Siddharameshwar Maharaj - From a talk given September 26, 1933 on the Yogavasishtha