Maya

Devotees often refer to the material world as maya. Maya means "that which is not", or illusion. Knowing the illusions of the material world is important in spiritual life.

What illusions of the material world can you think of?

The material world is a place of suffering

Srila Prabhupada often emphasised that the material world is a place of suffering. Why is it important to emphasise this point? Why do devotees need to be convinced about it?

The three-fold miseries of life
Adhyatmika Miseries coming from one's own body and mind (aching bones, rotting teeth, headaches, worry and stress, etc.)
Adhibhautika Miseries coming from other living beings (mosquitoes, envious people, vicious dogs, etc)
Adhidaivika Miseries coming from nature (demigods) (earthquake, famine, extreme weather conditions, etc.)

Birth, death, old-age, and disease

Seeing how these four limiting factors of the material world create suffering for the living entity is an item of knowledge listed in Bhagavad-gita 13.8-12.
It takes a little contemplation and discussion to grasp. We usually forget the suffering of birth, and while we are young and healthy, old age, disease, and death seem distant and irrelevant. Therefore the Bhagavatam attempts to awaken us.

  • Consider the suffering the child goes through at birth.
  • Disease is a misery that repeatedly arises throughout life. See how many different kinds of disease and affliction you can think of.
  • Consider also the disturbing symptoms of old-age.
  • Lord Kapila describes (Srimad-Bhagavatam 3.30) the typical miseries surrounding death.
  • Old-age, severe disease, and death are bad enough in themselves but they also cause pain to loved ones who see the suffering condition.

Hmmm . . . something to think about . . .
The material nature provides the living entity with much more opportunitiy to suffer than to enjoy. For example, how many different ways can you give pain to your foot compared to how many ways you can give it pleasure?
Even if we don't realize personally that the material world is a place of suffering, Lord Krsna certifies it in Bhagavad-gita 8.15 (duhkhalayam).

Drawbacks of material happiness

Material happiness:
  • is simply a relief from suffering
  • is temporary and limited
  • is based on envy and is therefore unreal
  • is nothing compared to what we are missing
  • makes us attached
  • keeps us bound to material life and the bodily concept of life
  • is never as good as one expects