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A Series of Lessons on the Inner Teachings of the Philosophies and Religions of India1196
palpable absurdity. They say that Maya appears, and therefore must be
in accord with Brahman’s nature and being, and not contrary to his will
or desire, if such relative terms may be permitted regarding the Absolute.
Therefore Brahman, himself, is “the reason” or “cause” or “why” of Maya.
And beyond that they refuse to go, claiming that this mystery is locked up
in Brahman himself, and that the question can no more be answered than
the “why,” “reason,” or “necessity” of the existence of Brahman, itself. And so
in the end even the advanced Advaitist confesses himself unable to consider
and answer that great Ultimate Question that has ever perplexed the great
philosophical minds that were able to realize that such a question existed—
the question: “Why did God create the universe, since He is not bound by
Necessity or Desire; since nothing can be accomplished by it; since there
is nothing that can be that has not always been—be the universe illusion
or reality; why was it created?” So it always has been—so it is now—so,
perhaps, will it be always, for none but God Himself—the Absolute—can
answer this question from full knowledge, for such full Knowledge is God
Himself, or the Brahman, of Absolute Intelligence. This is indeed the Riddle
of the Sphinx.
But the failure to answer this Ultimate Question, or “Why?” does not
deter the Advaitist from speculating concerning the nature of Maya. To
some Maya is identical with a “Principle of Nature” or a “Creative Energy,”
which is inherent in the Being of Brahman, and which he brings into play,
willing to will it into activity, and willing to involve himself in it, temporarily.
To others Maya is in the nature of a Brahmic Imagination, in which he
plunges in reverie akin to the day-dream of the man. To others Maya is as
the true dream-condition in which “the dreams are true while they last,” and
from which Brahman finally arouses himself, little by little, each individual’s
awakening contributing a “little.” To others Maya is the mental state of
Reverie or Meditation into which Brahman plunges himself, and objectifies
universes and characters, as the artist objectifies the characters and scenes of
his “mental creation” of story, poem, drama, painting, or sculpture, from his