The Disney world theme parks are colorful and are constantly brimming with various activities. There are huge crowds waiting in line to go on rides, watch shows, eat lunch etc. The parks have many attendants who provide service always with a smile. Their single aim is to make people happy after, of course, they have collected the admission price. With constant parades and fireworks, they make sure that people do not get to see everything in one day, and so people go back repeatedly.

I saw the faces of people to see if they are having fun and are enjoying themselves. I saw them having a good time only when they are seated on the rides. But otherwise they looked tired and worn out standing in lines, running from one place to another to get ‘Fast passes’ or looking at maps to decide where to go next. Just for a few fleeting minutes of enjoyment they forget all the trouble they have to undergo to get there. Well, this is the world of maya or illusion. Maya has the tendency to delude us into thinking we are enjoying when she really metes out pain and sorrow. After all the dust is settled, we still need to deal with the huge bills.

Now what is maya? Maya is to see things separate from Krishna. When we see things existing for our pleasure to exploit and enjoy, when we see others or things as objects of our enjoyment then that is maya. Whatever we know about anything we know to the extent that it is an object of our consciousness. But the essence of consciousness is not to be an object but rather to be the subject – it is awareness itself.

There are three categories of people. One when they see the color and splendor of Disney world, they want to exploit it fully to enjoy it. They are in maya. The second sees only the modes of nature are in play, and so do not allow their consciousness to enjoy but with a detached attitude may still participate in the various activities. This is the platform of jnana and he is above maya. The third not only sees the modes at work but also sees everything as expanded from Krishna’s energy. He remembers Krishna’s words that all beautiful existence has expanded from a spark of His splendor.