maya

Chapter I introduces the Advaita Vedanta philosophical system, focusing on its non-dualistic vision of reality as articulated by the philosopher Sāṃkara. It outlines the foundational texts (prasthāna-traya) that Sāṃkara interprets to present Brahman as the singular, unchanging reality characterized by existence, consciousness, and bliss, while the world is considered an illusion (māyā). The chapter also discusses the nuanced relationship between Brahman and the phenomenal world, emphasizing the ontological distinction and the role of māyā as the power that conceals Brahman and produces the appearance of multiplicity.

This chapter explores the concept of the 'perennial Now,' the fleeting and intangible present moment that is both the only direct experience of reality and paradoxically elusive to human perception. It discusses how mystical experiences, moments of danger or peace, and certain neurological states reveal this timeless reality, while language and conceptual thought fail to adequately capture it. The chapter concludes by emphasizing the ineffability of the pure Now and its centrality to understanding reality beyond past and future.