THE Doctrine of Maya - HolyBooks.com

""""""DEVELOPMENT OF ITS CONCEPTION 55all knowledge, hence unknowable.- The categoriesof all knowledge break down when stretched witha view to their application to the Atman. And asto all else, which is the other," the sage saysato anyat artam," i.e., all else is full of sorrow.This phraseisrepeated again in iii. 5. i, in a dialoguewith Kahola. This other than the Self," i.e.,the so-called world, is again denied its reality iniii. 8. n, where Yaj fiavalkya is instructing Gargi(who was of a highly philosophic temperament) inthe mysterious love of the Brahman.f In Brh. Up. iv. 4. 4, again, the simile of a goldsmithisemployed. As he by taking a bit of gold mouldsit into various newer and more beautiful forms,,so the Atman issupposed to create through Avidydvarious forms, such as the Pitris, the Gandharvas,the gods, Prajapati, Brahma, etc. i Here all thevariety of forms is spoken of as avidyd, hence unreal.It may, however, be pointed out that similes illustrate only a special aspect of truth and should notbe carried beyond their legitimate sphere.The phrase avidyam gamayitva occurs inthis mantra as well as in the preceding one, wherean example of the caterpillar is given.Another remarkable passage that lends a decisivesupport to this pure idealism occurs in Brh. iv. 4.19manasaiva anudrastavyamneha nana sti kincana,mftyoh sa mrtyum apnotiya iha naneva pasyati."