The Eighth Obstacle—Getting Caught in the Illusion of Life

Getting caught in the illusion of life means having a false impression of life as being a certain way, a false sense of security, and a false sense of importance. The eighth obstacle, Maya, means illusions or boundaries. Competing in life requires a strong body and a steady mind, but success requires something more profound: a sincere and intellectual understanding of Maya. We have all heard the saying that the world is an illusion and nothing is real. But that is not true. Everything around you is real. Believing that we all see the world through the same set of eyes and from the same experiences is the illusion. We see the world through our perspective, forgetting that everyone has a unique view of the world. We may share a common reality, but how we experience and perceive life is unique to each of us. The illusion is in believing that how we perceive the world is the only view. The world is real, made up of experiences through which we might gain actual knowledge of what yoga calls our Purusha, our authentic being, known as the soul. This is your character and virtues—let’s get to work. END: We often look to the material world to define us. It is not the material world that defines us, but what defines us is what we do with it and how we do or do not let it build character, values, and virtues. The only permanent thing is what you cultivate within. Money, health, happiness, possessions, and relationships come and go, but the virtues you build within you carry through each incarnation. The world is real—how we perceive the world is an illusion. So, work to develop virtues within. Know the world is real and then use it as a great opportunity to build acceptance, tolerance, compassion, and understanding, and you will overcome the obstacle of illusion. It takes work to separate yourself and see the world for what it is—an opportunity to master your karma. Remember, everything in the world is real and ever-changing. Nothing in life is permanent except the characteristics and qualities you develop and retain. Wealth, material things, world peace, technology, emotions, and feelings are all constantly changing, but what you create within carries with you from lifetime to lifetime. Be peaceful, kind, and generous. EGO: Flip your palms up and extend out the index finger—the ego. The Maya, or illusion, believes everything is ego-related and real from the ego's perspective. You are here to use the world, but do not be used by it. Pull your finger in and place your thumb on top, symbolizing the soul. Take a breath and surrender to your soul. You are a steward of life, so use it wisely. To overcome Maya, detach and observe life without indifference. Withdraw and reflect with an objective point of view. Remove your emotional attachment, and you will discover clarity. You will then begin to understand why you are here and what you are here to learn. See every problem and decision as an opportunity to learn, know, and master your karma, and thus, you master your life. The world is not an illusion; it is made of real things and experiences so that we might have the opportunity to discover, define, and refine our Purusha, our authentic being, known as the soul. Your life cannot be understood through intellectual interpretation. Life can only be understood through experiences. See the experiences for what they are: opportunities to lift the veil of illusion so that you might learn, know, and master your karma. Namaste~ may you walk the path of life with health, happiness, and peace. Doctor Lynn For books, classes, consultations, and more, visit http://www.doctorlynn.com