GURBANI  AWARENESS SERIES-5
                                     SIKH MISSIONARY COLLEGE
                                                         MAYA
This word “maya”  frequently finds place in Gurbani. The dictionary meaning of “maya” are illusion, maya is interpreted variously as a veil or curtain concealing reality. The word is used in Punjabi for money and is used for so many other forms. In Gurbani it is used for ignorance as well.  Guru Amar Dass Jee explain Maya  as:
                      ਏਹ ਮਾਇਆ ਜਿਤੁ ਹਰਿ ਵਿਸਰੈ ਮੋਹੁ ਉਪਜੈ ਭਾਉ ਦੂਜਾ ਲਾਇਆ ॥
This is Maya, by which the Lord is forgotten; emotional attachment and love of duality well up.
This would mean whatever achievement, position, thought,  relation or belongings  throw us in duality and takes away from God’s path (The righteous way of  Living) is called Maya.
The Creator has blessed us with the intellect which is very much necessary to survive . Unfortunately, the same intellect becomes a reason of our failure to realize Him. Gurbani is an expression of spiritual experience; its truth is realized if that same very experience is obtained; it should be used to have the experience it glorifies. Due to illusion we miss the real spirit and remain on the hot plate of desires.
Maya is assumed to stand between man and reality, producing error and illusion in the human mind, and creating hurdles in one’s spiritual progress. It is one’s responsibility to make a living by working hard sincerely. That alone is not enough to experience the Creator because to experience Him, it must be understood how His show is played and how to remain immaculate like a lotus in the influence of Maya. We must understand that what we deem as a profitable and necessary for our life is not necessarily useful for our spiritual progression; our conclusion about something profitable and necessary is based on the influence on us of the three modes of Maya .
                ਰਜ ਗੁਣ ਤਮ ਗੁਣ ਸਤ ਗੁਣ ਕਹੀਐ ਇਹ ਤੇਰੀ ਸਭ ਮਾਇਆ ॥
The different aspects in the character or habits of a person is regulated by the mix of these three contents i.e. RAJ GUN, TAMM GUN AND SAT GUN.
RAJJ GUN-(Passion) This is the state where mind is stuck in materialistic objects and ideas. There is no end to worldly desires. Guru Arjan Sahib says:
                               ਸਹਸ ਖਟੇ ਲਖ ਕਉ ਉਠਿ ਧਾਵੈ ॥
Earning a thousand, he runs after a hundred thousand.
                               ਤ੍ਰਿਪਤਿ ਨ ਆਵੈ ਮਾਇਆ ਪਾਛੈ ਪਾਵੈ ॥
Satisfaction is not obtained by chasing after Maya.(SGGS 278)
Such people are characterized by passion and selfish activities.  They are aggressive, full of  lust and greed. They  lead most stressful life. Gurbani draws their picture detailed in the following  Shabd:
ਜਿਉ ਕੂਕਰੁ ਹਰਕਾਇਆ ਧਾਵੈ ਦਹ ਦਿਸ ਜਾਇ ॥
 ਲੋਭੀ ਜੰਤੁ ਨ ਜਾਣਈ ਭਖੁ ਅਭਖੁ ਸਭ ਖਾਇ ॥
ਕਾਮ ਕ੍ਰੋਧ ਮਦਿ ਬਿਆਪਿਆ ਫਿਰਿ ਫਿਰਿ ਜੋਨੀ ਪਾਇ ॥੨॥
Gurbani compares such persons with mad dogs.
`Even the religious activities performed by such people are either for a show off or longing for something. In either case the activities are not a complete surrender to God; but do such activities for some other motive .
Tamm Gun-  This is the state of ignorance. In brief here we can say that true happiness can be attained only being attuned with Supreme Power (Waheguru Jee) but under the influence of TAMM GUNN, we try to find the same  from worldly comforts and outwardly objects.  This state of mind blocks the spiritual development and in turn causes sufferings because one loves outer-self  ignoring inner-self.
SATT GUNN (Goodness)- Unlike the other two states of mind explained above, as it sounds from its name is for goodness.  The service performed not for some benefit or reward.  The person in this state do all good things in a humble way; BUT again the sub cautious mind develops a feeling “Oh! I am better than others”......this creates egoism and is trapped in this state too.  How to liberate? Let’s see the next stage which is called TURIA AWASTHA or we may say the “fourth state”
 ਚਉਥੇ ਪਦ ਕਉ ਜੋ ਨਰੁ ਚੀਨ੍ਹ੍ਹੈ ਤਿਨ੍ਹ੍ਹੀ ਪਰਮ ਪਦੁ ਪਾਇਆ ॥੨॥ (SGGS1123)
Understanding the different forms of Maya, as explained above, and keeping onself away from all the three type of clutches of Maya, one is elevated to this Fourth State (Sehj Awastha).
Here, in this state one enjoys a balanced state of mind; while discharging all worldly duties, i.e. duties  towards family and society, honest earning and living all the times in tune with Waheguru Jee, the Creator.  Treating all the odds and evens of life as God’s grace as ordained in Japu Jee Sahib,
ਹੁਕਮਿ ਰਜਾਈ ਚਲਣਾ ਨਾਨਕ ਲਿਖਿਆ ਨਾਲਿ ॥1॥
Hukam Rajai Chalna, Nanak Likhiya Naal.
(Whatever occurs, it falls under His Ordinance.)
When mind falls in love with Akalpurakh, love of His Naam rules the mind;   paving way for a very peaceful life
This is the final stage to be united with God.
ਰਾਮ ਕਬੀਰਾ ਏਕ ਭਏ ਹੈ ਕੋਇ ਨ ਸਕੈ ਪਛਾਨੀ ॥6॥3॥
The Lord and Kabeer have become one. No one can tell them apart. ||6||3||