An illusion is a distortion of a sensory perception. Each of the human senses can be deceived by illusions, but visual illusions are the most well known. Some illusions are subjective; different people may experience an illusion differently, or not at all. Optical illusions, such the use of false perspective, exploit assumptions made by the human visual system. Mirages are optical distortions through the atmosphere that may be photographed. While the perceived reality (such as water in the desert) is illusory, th ...

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Hindu Quotes: Illusion

When the world arises in me,

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(See also: Hinduism Archives, Hindu Quotes, Inspirational Quotes, Love Quotes, Friendship Quotes, Life Quotes)

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Non-dualism is the highest Vedantic truth. Only Brahman exists. The pluralistic world as we experience it is merely a figment of the imagination. An illusion.

At the highest level Vedanta does not encourage any discussion on the nature of the world and its cause. That would merely be emphasising the reality of something which does not exist. It focuses on the direct experience of Reality.

(See also: Life and Death, Life and Beyond, Death and Dying, Body Mind and Soul)

Read more here: » Life and Death: Illusion And Reality

Kalki Bhagavan gives his view on the true human nature behind the illusion and on how to prepare for enlightenment; by setting your relationships right and by truly experience the pain inside.

Read more here: » Kalki Bhagavan on the illusion of self

Neither the body nor the senses are real - these are only instruments of varied expressions and actions associated with the temporal world of Atman , the Divine Self.

It is on realising the Atman that we become aware that we are essentially a fragmented part of the Universal Soul.

The individual consciousness though infinite and one, is manifested in finitude of body and mind. The goal of human life is attaining oneness with the infinite.

(See also: Oneness , God and Religion, Peace on Earth, Peace of Mind, Love and Happiness, Life and Beyond, Body Mind and Soul)

Read more here: » Oneness: Viveka And Vairagya Dispel Illusion  

The Illusion of the Ego

Nothing can be taken from you; you cannot lose who you are. You are indestructible and eternal. You are a manifestation of God's light, an individual consciousness just as others are, so what is there to struggle with? Only the perceived threat of loss that the ego presents to us can bring us into fear, delusion and defensiveness. When we understand that loss is impossible, we will not keep falling into the same hole over and over again. We must eventually see the distorted reality that the ego presents to us, and once again embrace love unconditionally.

Read more here: » Defense and Ego: Defense - The Illusion of the Ego

ILLUSION

We know that the Hindus and Buddhists teach that the entire world is Maya, or "illusion". Gurdjieff understood that there is only one thing repeated endlessly to give the illusion of variation (see REALITY). We know, from modern physics, that the atom is composed of infinitely smaller and smaller impermanent points of potential energy. We are aware that all things are in flux and that the distinction between world and self is imaginary. Given these and an endless array of further facts, and seeing that the alteration of reality is, in fine, the magician's job, it is obvious that the magician must be a "master of illusion". The conjuror, buffoon or practitioner of legerdemain merely carries the "Great Work" of the magus to an absurd degree and in demotic burlesque or genuine mockery, he attempts to "expose" everything as a fraud and to reveal that nothing is sacred, after all.

Thus the stage magician serves a useful purpose by reminding the serious magician to avoid pomposity. The purpose of the conjuror and the sorceror are equally to deceive -- the one innocently, as a pastime, the other not so innocently, as an effort to wield power. But the goal of High Magick is exactly the reverse -- its aim is to undeceive us about ourselves and the world we inhabit.

(See also: ILLUSION , Magick, Mysticism, Mysticism Dictionary, Body Mind and Soul,)

For more dictionary entries, see » Illusion Dictionary

Illusion. In Occultism everything finite (like the universe and all in it) is called illusion or maya.

(See also: Illusion , Theosophy, Spirituality, Body mind and Soul, Spiritual Dictionary,)

For more dictionary entries, see » Illusion Dictionary

illusion (illusory): A belief, opinion or observation that appears to be, but is not in accord with the facts, truth or true values, such as the illusion created by a magician.

See: avidya.

(See also: Illusion , Hinduism, Body Mind and Soul)

For more dictionary entries, see » Illusion Dictionary

Illusion Positive unreality, or that which is wholly and completely deceptive without basis in reality; as such some philosophers consider it to be rooted in the human mind itself, subjective or interior rather than external or objective. As thus understood, illusion falls far short of the significance of the Sanskrit maya, for which it is used as a translation. For the sense of maya is that of appearance rising out of reality, not something opposed to reality.

It is evident that, if the universe can be said to exist at all, we must allow that illusion in the sense of maya has existence, a relative or temporary reality, for it obviously originates from and shadows forth the reality within and behind it.

It is not that reality itself, but its multiform appearances. To say that the world in which we live, and all the people and beings and things in it, are an illusion, does not mean that all this is an empty dream; it means that what is so real to us, as long as we are conscious on this plane, will be seen as a maya or deceptive appearance from our viewpoint when we become conscious on a higher and more inclusive plane.

See also MAYA

(See also: Illusion , Mysticism, Mysticism Dictionary, Occultism, Occultism Dictionary)

For more dictionary entries, see » Illusion Dictionary

This is a sitemap for Theosophy - I . Click on a link and you will find multiple definitions and articles related to the word.

I - Letter I, I Am That I Am, I Ching, I H S, I Hi Weu, Iabraoth, Iacchos, Iachus, Iah, Iaho, Ialdabaoth, I-am, Iamblichus, I-am-I, I-am-ness, Iao, Iao Hebdomai, Iapetos, Iapetus, Iaso, Iavar-Zivo, Ibis, Ibis Worship, Iblis, Ibn Gebirol, iccha-sakti, Ice Ages, Ichchha, Ichchha Sakti, Ichchha-sakti, Ichthus, Ichthys, Icshu, Ida, Idaean Mysteries, Idaei, Idaeic Finger, Idam, Ida-nadi, Idas, Idaspati, Idavatsara, Iddhi, Ideal Man, Idealism, Idei, Ideic Finger, Ideos, Idises, Idol, Idolotry, Idospati, Idra Rabba, Idra Suta, Idra Zuta, Idris, Idrus, Idun, Iduna, Idwatsara, I-em-hetep, Ieon, Iesous, Iesus Hominum Salvator, Iesus Nazarenus Rex Iudaeorum, Ieu, Ieva, Ieve, Ievo, Iezedians, Ifing, Igaga, Igege, Igigi, Igne Natura Renovatur Integra, Ignis, Ignis Fatuus, IHVH, Ikhir Bonga, Ikshu, Ikshvaku, Ikshwaku, Iksvaku, Iku-gai-no-kame, Ila, Ilavrita, Ilavriti, Ilavrta, Ilda Baoth, Ildabaoth, Iliados, Ilithyia, Illaah, Illa'ah, Illinus, Illuminati, Illupl, Illusion, Ilmatar, Ilus, Ilya Murometz, Ilythia, Imagination, Imago, Imat, Imhetep, Imhotep, Imhot-pou, imma, Immaculate Conception, Immah, Immah Illa-ah, Immortality, Imothos, Imouthes, Imperishable Sacred Land, in Hebrew Hinnom, Inachos, Inachus, Inca, Incantation, Incapsulation Theory, Incarnation, Incarnations, Incas, Incense, Incubus, Indeterminacy, Indigo, Individualism, Individuality, Indivisibles, Indolentia, Indovansas, Indrani, Indriya, Indriyatman, Indu, Induction, Inductive Method, Induvamsa, Induvansa, Indwellers, Ineffable Name, Infallibility of Pope, Infants, Inferior and Superior, Infernal Deities, Infinite, Inflectional Speech, Influenza, Initiant, Initiate, Initiation, Inner Eye, Inner God, Inner Man, Inner Round, Innocents, Inorganic, Insanity, Insignia Majestatis, Inspiration, Inspired, Instinct, Intellect, Intercosmic gods, Interlaced Triangles, Intermediate Nature, Intoxicants, Intra-Mercurial Planet, Intuition, Inversion of Poles, Invisible Worlds, Involution, Io, Ioannes, Ioh, Iolo Morganwg, Ion, Ionian, Ionic School, Iormungandr, Iotef, Iove, Ira, Irad, Iranian Morals, Irdhi, Irenaeus, Iri-sokhru, Irkalla, Iron Age, Isa Upanishad, Isaac ben S Luria, Isanami, Isangi, Isarim, Isatva, Ischin, Ish Amon, Ishdubar, Ishim, 'Ishim, 'Ishin, Ishmonia, Ishtar, Isiac table, Isitwa, Islam, Israel, Issachar, 'issarim, Istar, Ister, Isu, Isvara, Iswara, Iswur, I't, Itchasakti, Ithyphallic, Itihasa, Itthammuktas, Iukabar Zivo, Iu-Kabar Zivo, Iurbo Adonai, Iurbo Aduna?, Ivalde, Ivaldi, Iwaldi, Ixtlilxochitl, Iyam, 'iyyob, Izad, Izanagi and Izanami, Izdubar, Ized

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Also see these pages for material related to Theosophy:

Sanskrit Dictionary , Hinduism Dictionary , Buddhism Dictionary, Mysticism Dictionary , Spiritual Dictionary

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Hinduism and Maya

According to Hinduism, the world around us is not real, because it is impermanent and ever changing. The world in which we live is a world of ignorance and falsehood or untruth, called Asat, in contrast to Sat or the world of Truth that exists beyond it, where neither the mind, nor any of the senses can ever reach even remotely.

Read more here: » Hinduism and Maya: Hinduism and Belief in Maya

Pali Chanting in the Theravada Buddhist Tradition

With translation to enlglish, including

Vandan a - Homage to the Triple Gems

Ti-Sarana - The Three Refuges

Panca-sila - The Five Precepts

Buddha Vandana - Homage to the Buddha

Dhamma Vandana - Homage to the Teachings

Sangha Vandana - Homage to the Disciples of the Buddha

Maha-Mangala Sutta - Discourse on Blessings

Karaniya Sutta - Discourse on Loving Kindness

Ratana Sutta - The Jewel Discourse

Read more here: » Buddhism: Pali Chanting in the Theravada Buddhist Tradition

During the past decade interest in the Calendars of the Maya has dramatically increased world-wide. Ultimately, this increasing interest is derived from the fact that a new consciousness of time is now emerging. A New Age gives rise to a new consciousness of time which in turn requires a new calendar for this to be expressed. This new consciousness of time is today commonly experienced either as if time is accelerating, or that it simply disappears. Maybe, in fact, the idea that time is a quantity is on its way out. "Why is this?" we may ask. Is it merely an illusion of ours that time is running faster or has our highly developed technological society developed so effective means of tele communications that everything is speeding up to a point where things almost become unbearable?

Read more here: » Mayan Calendar: The Classical Mayan Tzolkin Count and the Dreamspell

Fundamental darkness

(Jpn.: gampon-no-mumyo)

Also, fundamental ignorance or primal ignorance. The most deeply rooted illusion inherent in life, said to give rise to all other illusions. Darkness in this sense means inability to see or recognize the truth, particularly, the true nature of one's life.

The term fundamental darkness is contrasted with the fundamental nature of enlightenment, which is the Buddha nature inherent in life.

According to the Shrimala Sutra, fundamental darkness is the most difficult illusion to surmount and can be eradicated only by the wisdom of the Buddha. T'ien-t'ai (538-597) interprets darkness as illusion that prevents one from realizing the truth of the Middle Way, and divides such illusion into forty-two types, the last of which is fundamental darkness. This illusion is only extirpated when one attains the stage of perfect enlightenment, the last of the fifty-two stages of bodhisattva practice.

Nichiren (1222-1282) interprets fundamental darkness as ignorance of the ultimate Law, or ignorance of the fact that one's life is essentially a manifestation of that Law, which he identifies as Nam-myoho-renge-kyo. In The Treatment of Illness, Nichiren states: "The heart of the Lotus school is the doctrine of three thousand realms in a single moment of life, which reveals that both good and evil are inherent even in those at the highest stage of perfect enlightenment.

The fundamental nature of enlightenment manifests itself as Brahma and Shakra, whereas the fundamental darkness manifests itself as the devil king of the sixth heaven". Nichiren thus regards fundamental darkness as latent even in the enlightened life of the Buddha, and the devil king of the sixth heaven as a manifestation or personification of life's fundamental darkness. The Record of the Orally Transmitted Teachings reads, "Belief is a sharp sword that cuts off fundamental darkness or ignorance."

(See also: Fundamental darkness , Enlightenment, Buddhism Enlightenment, Buddhism Enlightenment Dictionary)

For more dictionary entries, see » Illusion Dictionary

Our bodies create the illusion that we are separate. This illusion is further reinforced by modern science and technology, which is based on the Cartesian-Newton paradigm, which posited a division between mind and matter and led to a view of the universe as a mechanical system consisting of separate objects.

This view fostered life in society as a competitive struggle for existence and the belief in unlimited material progress to be achieved through economic and technological growth. Modern physics and quantum mechanics are now discovering what the mystics of the East have long known Ñ the basic oneness of the universe.

Read more here: » Subconscious: Infinite Power of The Subconscious

In this third chapter of Kiara Windriders new book; “Enlightenment 2012: Kalki and the Golden Age”, Kiara is describing the basic teachings conducted by Kalki and the Dasajis of Golden Age Foundation at the retreats for enlightenment.

In the courses offered at Kalki’s ashram, the first few days are about becoming aware of the prison of our mind. It isn’t about trying to change any of it, because you cannot. You are simply witnessing the reality of your mind as it is, the emotional charge, the habit patterns, the assumptions, the traumas, the conditioning, and the masks that we build up in order to survive. You begin to strip down the social and spiritual personas, and you begin to understand the nature of mind. You become aware that enlightenment is simply about ‘de-clutching’ from the mind.

Read more here: » Enlightenment 2012: Kalki and the Golden Age – Chapter 3: Basic Teaching

Nowadays, my mailbag produces an ever increasing number of dreams which, when analysed, are spiritual or contain elements of spirituality - but why, and do these same dreams provide clues? Much can be learned from dreams, and I believe that they are screaming out at us some answers to these questions. Interestingly, this increase coincides with the general trend pervading modern society of the population apparently splitting into categories, which are becoming ever more entrenched in their own respective beliefs.Perhaps the interactive virtual reality programmes of this life have begun to run their course. Could it be that the increasing numbers of these dreams are just the early signs which do precede a new dawning of an age of spiritual awareness?

Read more here: » Spiritual dreams: Spiritual dreams - The sign of a new dawning?

 Many healing practitioners have shared with me their bewilderment over assuming illnesses or conditions from their clients, especially when they truly felt that their intentions were of loving service to another. Why would a healer or anyone become ill through healing others?

Read more here: » Law of Healing: Healer, Heal Thy Self

Reason shows us that "belief" and "experience" are one and the same. This understanding is crucial to understanding illusion, and it is difficult for most people to grasp. If I experience the pain of loss, I must be saying that such loss is not only possible, but REAL; i.e. when I experience loss, I BELIEVE in the REALITY of "loss." I cannot meaningfully say that I can experience something that is unreal; that would be to say that there is no way to distinguish real from unreal, making the word "real" meaningless.

Read more here: » Personal Growth: The Nature of Dreams