Probably all readers have heard the term ‘maya’, the Sanskrit word meaning illusion or magic. Maya can also mean "a magic show, an illusion where things appear to be present but are not what they seem".
To reflect on this for a moment, maya is the illusory nature of every thing. Not just the five senses but thoughts, imagination, world, me, you, angels, demons — all that appears to our consciousness is regarded as maya.
Nevertheless, we appear in this experience of life as an individual, in the world, so here is where ‘the rubber meets the road’. Meaning that, it’s our deal to play as an actor in this cosmic theater — with all the others that show up in our experience.
Our opportunity (and our shared purpose) is to discover our real Self — that which is not illusion, the silent, conscious presence that does not suffer and die. To recognize and accept the core of our Being turns maya into ‘leela’ —the play of consciousness with itself.