Theos-Talk Archives (December 2002 Message tt00237)

In a message dated 12/05/02 8:43:42 PM, redrosarian@yahoo.com writes:

>--- In theos-talk@y..., "Steve Stubbs" <stevestubbs@y...> wrote:
>> One thing that is not plain to me is whether maya includes only 
>> illusions (which have to do with perceptions) or if it also 
>> encompasses delusions, such as the notion that there is a permanent 
>> and subsisting self. In psychology a distinction is made between
>> IL-lusion and DE-lusion.
>
>It is my understanding that illusion has more of a mental quality to 
>it while delusion is the combination of illusion that has both a 
>mental and an emotional quality to it. I'm not sure if this is a 
>theosophical perspective.

(From American Heritage Dictionary)
Delusion: 1. a. The act or process of deluding. b. The state of being 
deluded. 2. A false belief or opinion: labored under the delusion that 
success was at hand. 3. Psychiatry A false belief strongly held in spite of 
invalidating evidence, especially as a symptom of mental illness: delusions 
of persecution. 

Illusion: 1. a. An erroneous perception of reality. b. An erroneous concept 
or belief. 2. The condition of being deceived by a false perception or 
belief. 3. Something, such as a fantastic plan or desire, that causes an 
erroneous belief or perception.

According to these definitions, maya, as considered generally in theosophy, 
is not a delusion, but is an illusion. Although, the Sanskrit word as used 
in Buddhism may have different meanings. However, all this is hypothetical 
or uncertain -- since one can be deluded by an illusion. Therefore, we might 
consider any wrong view of reality, which includes the subsistence of the 
Self, whether truly permanent or not, as maya. Unfortunately, this dichotomy 
has not been resolved yet, and there are valid arguments for both views in 
different schools of Buddhism. Theosophy, however, makes a distinction 
between the higher and lower selves as to their permanence or not... And 
this, depends on which frame of reference, from a cyclic age length viewpoint 
between zero and infinity, we are talking about.

LHM