Is everything we see an illusion?
It may be difficult for us, as ordinary humans, to believe that everything we see, hear, and perceive with our senses is merely an illusion (Maya).
“Maya” refers to that which is not the ultimate truth (it is impermanent and ever-changing).
“Truth” refers to that which remains constant and unchanging at all times. It is eternal and everlasting —something that was true yesterday, is true today, and will remain true tomorrow and forever.
Everything we see while existing in the 3rd dimension including humans, plants, other living beings, and even the structures we claim as our creations—comes into existence, remains for a period, and eventually ceases to be. This means that none of these are eternal or absolute truths. However, can we simply call them illusions? We know that everything exists. If we ask for whom all these exists, the answer is that for us, the beings living in this 3rd dimension.
📌 We cannot see viruses with our eyes; does that mean they do not exist? In this universe with 14 dimensions, how can we humans, who experience only the 3rd dimension, say that no living beings exist in other dimensions? For those fortunate enough to cross dimensions, the world where gurus live, the world of ancestors, the world of gods, aliens, and other microscopic beings are all experiences. Microorganisms can also be seen without a microscope.
It is possible for us to travel o other dimensions by controlling the prana in our body. By leaving our visible body here, our astral body will have the chance to experience many dimensions. It is possible to go to other planets and understand what is there. The easiest thing is to go to the sun and the moon, breathe their air, travel through their universe, and do so with this body. Those who are prepared and trained through meditation can go and walk on the sun and the moon, meditate there, and understand what is there.
If we think deeply, we can understand that, we lack certain abilities that even small ants possess. For instance, if we place a bit of sugar somewhere, ants arrive within seconds. Other creatures like cows, dogs, and more experience dimensions other than ours. We often hear dogs barking when death is near.
📌In SMS meditation, when we cross dimensions, we lose awareness of our body. In that state, we no longer perceive our body, the people around us, the chair we’re sitting on, the place, or any external sounds it all seems unreal. However, we fully experience whatever exists in the new dimension we enter.
After 45 minutes, when we return, our body awareness comes back. We realize that the chair, the sounds, and everything we had momentarily “lost” were always there. This shows that whatever dimension we are in, everything within that dimension exists for us. But when we move to another dimension, we can no longer perceive what we saw in the previous one.
📌 For someone who has experienced the 14th dimension, everything exists within it, but at its core, all is one. From this perspective, the entire universe elephants, cats, dogs, humans, plants, rivers, stones, and soil appears the same. There are no distinct forms, only a vast, continuous field of twinkling, moving energy.
In this state, we realize that the same energy or knowledge fills everything, and the beginning and end of all things are the same. Nothing in the universe is separate from us. What we once perceived as solid and real is understood to be an illusion temporary and not absolute truth.
Sree Narayana Guru states this in Atmopadesa Śatakam as,
“Sakalavumullathu thanne, thatwachintha-
grahanithu sarvavumekamaay grahikkum.
akamughamaayariyaykil maayayam van-
paka palathum bhramamekidunnu paaram.”
To grasp this, we must live by universal dharma (satyam vada, dharma chara—speak the truth, follow righteousness). Spirituality is not something to be read; it must be experienced.
📌 We are like a frog in a well, limited by our own perspectives. When a teacher explains a topic to 40 students, each one understands it differently based on their own level of knowledge. To truly expand our understanding, our thoughts must also expand.
For everyone to perceive reality in the same way, the complicated memories must be erased. When all complicated memories are completely removed, the conscious mind becomes calm, free from thoughts. At this stage, the universe itself takes our control. There is no longer “my right” or “your right” only one universal truth that applies to all, in alignment with the laws of the universe.
We must understand that when we dismiss something as untrue, we lose the opportunity to explore and discover whether it is true or not.
📌 When we watch a movie, the characters go through various emotions like happiness and sadness, and as viewers, we feel those emotions too. However, for the screenwriter, it is simply the fulfilment of bringing the story to life.
Similarly, in life, we experience joy and sorrow, good and bad, success and failure. But for the Creator of the universe, it is not about these individual experiences it is about the satisfaction of the grand design unfolding.
In a movie, events like marriage, childbirth, and a child growing up all unfold within just two hours. Once the movie ends, we return to our real lives. Similarly, our life is like a grand drama or movie written by the universe. The roles we play for a short time in a film, we play for years in this 3rd dimension (Earth). With death, we transition to another dimension. The drama of current life ends when the body is burned and returns to Pancha Bhuta (the five elements), while the sookshma bodies awaits another role (another physical form) in a new drama.
This cycle of birth and death continues until the sookshma body is purified and merges with the Paramatma chaithanya (the Supreme Soul), ending the journey
Sree Narayana Guru states this in Atmopadesa Śatakam:
“Arivu nijasthithiyingarinjidanay
Dhara muthalaya vibhoothiyayi thane
mariyumavasthayileri mari vattam
thiriyumalathasamam thirinjidunnu.”
“Arivathu dharmiyeyalla dharmamaamee
Yaruliya dharmiyadrushyamaakayale
Dhara muthalayavayonnumilla thaangu-
Nnoruvadivaamarivullathorthidenam”
