Suffering and free will
Hindus are encouraged to pay careful attention to their choices in this life, so that they can reduce their suffering in the next life. By following their The duties a Hindu should follow in life., they ensure that when their The essence of a being. Can refer to body, mind or soul, depending on context, but usually indicates the soul that is reborn. is The religious belief that existence is a cycle of birth, life, death and rebirth, and that the soul survives physical death and is reborn in a new body. it will be closer to Escape from the cycle of reincarnation. Term used in the Hindu religion. than it is now.
Maya
Hindus believe that humans can be easily distracted from this task by An illusion.. The Hindu concept of maya means ‘illusion’ and refers to the ways in which a person’s existence and self-centredness stop them from seeing the truth. Hindus believe that maya can exert a powerful influence on people.
Humans often feel that the most important things in life are relationships, family and what they own. Many Hindus believe that these things are simply an illusion, or maya, that distracts from the spiritual truth:
One becomes attracted to his body, home, property, children, relatives and wealth. In this way one increases life’s illusions and thinks in terms of ‘I and mine.’
This quote teaches that Hindus may be distracted from the spiritual truth and that their task in this life is to seek reunion with In Hindu belief, the absolute reality that is the true essence of all existence, God.. Instead of thinking that the ‘I’ matters most, Hindu spirituality encourages a much deeper awareness that all life is one.
Hindu scripture teaches how Hindus can be freed from maya through spiritual practice and discipline:
| Source of wisdom and authority | What does it mean? |
| “The senses are so strong … they can forcibly carry away the mind even of a person endowed with discrimination and practising self-control. They are established in perfect knowledge, who subdue their senses and keep their minds ever absorbed in me. While contemplating on the objects of the senses, one develops attachment to them. (Bhagavad Gita 2.60–3)” | A person's senses, such as sight and hearing, can lead their mind in the wrong direction, so they need self-control to concentrate on the divine, rather than being attached to what they see or hear. |
| “Attachment leads to desire, and from desire arises anger. Anger leads to clouding of judgement, which results in bewilderment of the memory. When the memory is bewildered, the intellect gets destroyed; and when the intellect is destroyed, one is ruined. (Bhagavad Gita 2.60–3)” | Maya, or illusion, works like this: a person's desires, anger and foggy-mindedness gets in the way of their intelligence, and this can destroy them. |
| Source of wisdom and authority | “The senses are so strong … they can forcibly carry away the mind even of a person endowed with discrimination and practising self-control. They are established in perfect knowledge, who subdue their senses and keep their minds ever absorbed in me. While contemplating on the objects of the senses, one develops attachment to them. (Bhagavad Gita 2.60–3)” |
|---|---|
| What does it mean? | A person's senses, such as sight and hearing, can lead their mind in the wrong direction, so they need self-control to concentrate on the divine, rather than being attached to what they see or hear. |
| Source of wisdom and authority | “Attachment leads to desire, and from desire arises anger. Anger leads to clouding of judgement, which results in bewilderment of the memory. When the memory is bewildered, the intellect gets destroyed; and when the intellect is destroyed, one is ruined. (Bhagavad Gita 2.60–3)” |
|---|---|
| What does it mean? | Maya, or illusion, works like this: a person's desires, anger and foggy-mindedness gets in the way of their intelligence, and this can destroy them. |
Six Hindu virtues
Hinduism offers people a way of life that reduces suffering. This has various elements to it, including these six:
Different Hindu scriptures list different virtues that enable a person to exercise their freedom to reduce suffering and pursue a better reincarnation. The Bhagavad Gita (16.1) provides a long list of 26 virtues related to the six core values that Hindus may follow.
Hindus believe that these virtues and ways of choosing to behave will reduce the suffering of others and lead to a better reincarnation of the The essence of a being. Can refer to body, mind or soul, depending on context, but usually indicates the soul that is reborn. after the death of the body.
Question
Why is maya an important concept for Hindus?
‘Maya’ refers to the illusions that distract Hindus from seeing the spiritual truth of the cycle of life and the possibility of moving closer to moksha in their next reincarnation.
