Maya (illusion) - Definition and Overview

Maya In Sikhism

In Sikhism, maya (the world as you normally perceive it) is said to be no more manifest than a dream. The Sikh concept is in line with Vedanta. Sikhism, as well as many other paths of spirituality, state that the world is like a dream, and there is nothing in it which is yours. (This last sentence has been transliterated right from the Guru Granth Sahib). An example of this is when our dreams can feel so solid and real sometimes, how do we know if we don't wake up to one every morning? What can a person actually call "mine" in the temporary existence of a life spanning a three-quarters of a century?

A modern concept that illustrates Maya / Illusion wonderfully is the Sci-Fi Movie "The Matrix". Everything in The Matrix is believed to be real, until the character Neo wakes up, and sees that it's just a dream world. One who is asleep rarely knows he is asleep until he awakens (for a counterexample, see lucid dreaming).

Parallels To Maya In Other Religions

Maya is also an important concept in Hinduism and Buddhism: see Maya (Hinduism).

Some dialogues of Plato also contain ideas reminiscent of maya, especially the famous "Parable of the Cave".