Radhanath Swami Answers, “Is the World Real or is it an Illusion?”
Life — By RNS Online on September 25, 2010 at 3:57 am
Question to Radhanath Swami: I wanted to know whether this world is real or is an illusion?
Radhanath Swami: The world is real but your conception of the world is an illusion. For example, if you mistake a snake to be a rope, that’s an illusion. You may pick it up and tie it around your throat, but when you get bitten by it, that’s not illusion, that’s real, because the snake is real. So the illusion was the misconception: you thinking that it was a rope. There is a rope and there is a snake but you misidentified the two.
Similarly this world is real and you are real. Anything that emanates from God is real because God is real. You are an eternal soul, but when you identify yourself with the matter of this world, that is an illusion. When we think your happiness is to enjoy matter, that is an illusion. That is the source of all bondage. But when we see matter and think of how to use it in God’s service, that is knowledge.
This microphone which I am using is real. To use it to sing some nonsense would be illusion, but to use it to chant the holy names of God is to understand its relationship with God. To use matter in the service of God is truth, is real.
Tags: illusion, radhanath swami, real, world
Tweet This
Share on Facebook
Digg This
Bookmark
Stumble
61 Comments
Amazingly clear! It is our perception which will determine whether we live in illusion or reality. And spiritual knowledge is the only answer to correct our perception.
One of the long debated topics in Spiritual paths, yet relevant to common is being so perfectly explained by Radhanath Swami.
We need such enlightened souls to help us make sense of various aspects of reality we can perceive and also reality beyond our perception!!!
Such a perfect distinction between matter and spiritual self.
Explanations given by Radhanath Swami are crystal clear
Everything can be positively used in the service of God if we have the right knowledge and understanding.
Concepts -real and illusion made so clear by Radhanath Swami.
Hare Krishna; Maharaj has so beautifully explained the difference between reality and illusion. Hari Bol!
Amazing!It is upto us to differentiate between illusion and reality…and pure faith and love for Krishna is the means to achieve it
Amazing!It is upto us to differentiate between illusion and reality…and pure faith and love for Krishna is the means to achieve it
Absolutely wonderful explanation by Radhanath Swami. as Radhanath Swami says, to see and use every thing in the service of Lord is real and if think this world is independent of Lord and there is nothign beyond this world and matter is absurd and illusion. we can learn these things by constantly hearing and associating with great saints like Radhanath Swami.
This whole business about showing the world as illusory and nothing linked to god is being debunked by Radhanath Swami
All Glories To H.H.Radhanath Swami Maharaj
Simple and crystal clear. This is like an guide to all those who want to know if the world is real or illusion.
Hare Krishna
thank you very much
Everything can be positively used in the service of God –Maharaj has so clearly explained it.Thank U Maharaj
H.H Radhanath Swami Maharaj has nicely explained what is real and what is illusion. God is real and His creation is real. The problem is in our understanding.
Crystal clear like a masterfully cut diamond. Hence brilliantly reflecting the truth. And definitely dispelling the fog of illusion that this world is an illusion. Priceless.
Thank you very much Maharaj.
Wonderful and eye opening answer by Radhanath Swami.
Wonderful explaination of a seemingly complex concept.
Wonderfully analogy and explaination by Radhanath Swami Maharaj. Thank you.
The world is real but your conception of the world is an illusion. This is a very powerful statement by Radhanath Swami which effectively negates the Mayavadi philosophy.
Thank you very much swamiji.
Thank you Radhanath Swami for making our concepts crystal clear by your wonderful explanation
To understand what is illusion separate from reality is a tedious task. HH Radhanath Swami has clarified this difficulty in words that can be easily digested.
Thank u Radhanath Swami for making our concepts very clear by giving such easy anologies which so easy to understand.
Wonderful answer. Radhanath Swami Maharaji kiiiiii jaiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii.
Nice!!
Radhanath Swami nicely explained how the world is real but our conception of the world is an illusion.
Radhanath swami has explained, What is reality & illusion? and also what is knowledge and bondage. Thank you Radhanath Swami
How amazingly Radhanath Swami explains complex questions with simple examples….great
Radhanath Swami’s answers are always very clear and unambiguous.
I have heard this answer live! It was a roar amongst the audience when Radhanath Swami gave this wonderful yet a very simple explanation.
A difficult question brilliantly answered by Radhanath Swami. It is heartening to see how he makes things so simple for us. This is one question that has left philosophers debating for hundreds of years in India !!!
Perfect answer – so nicely explained.
Fantastic explanation. Does not leave any doubt.
how foolish r we to be happily living in illusion!!!
this world is real but temporary…and we r busy building castles in the sand which will get washed away by the waves of time !!!…Maharaj unveils the reality & urges us to wake up and observe our-selves & this world for what it is…
All our efforts are towards grabing some happiness in this world, but we are looking for the right thing in the wrong place!!
Radhanath Swami has such clear vision. Just like the scriptures his speech cuts away our illusions of this illusory material world.
The more I am getting the opportunity to read these wonderful articles by Radhanath Swami ,I feel so fortunate to get answers for the lives we live. The solutions are there ,only our endeavor is required.
What a beautiful explanation differentiating between what is real and illusion.
Thankyou Radhanath Swami
example of snake and rope is very nice and convincing
What a profound explanation!
Well-structured answer with good examples…..
wonderful answer… would definitely come back regularly.
His Holiness Radhanath Swami Maharaj has beautifully explained the difference of we being real or in illusion.
This is a perfect answer from Radhanath Swami. I have read many answers on this topic but nothing comes close to this. Anything that comes from God is real because God is real and how we use it decides whether it is an illusion (use for own pleasure) or real (use in service of God)
Amazing ! Amazing reply .
Thank you so much maharaj
The difference between reality and illusion is now easily understandable.Thank you maharaj.
What a wonderful answer Radhanath Swami gave.
bull’s eye – such a perfect answer!
This gives us the clear understanding that how this world is real, because it has been emanated from the supreme reality,God.Seeing and identifying it with illusory sense perception,this same world appears to be unreal and makes us forget god.
Thank you for this wonderful answer.
Beautiful!
Simply to the point.
Radhanath Swami perfectly answers the doubts lingering in our minds.
Thank you for the clarification. wonderfully explained using the analogy of the rope and the snake.
Concept of the reality and illusion very clearly explained with the analogy of the rope and the snake.
Who is to decide what is sense and what is nonsense? Microphone is real and person using it is real…whatever he/she is saying is immaterial…..meeting God is a journey towards self realization and everyone had different approach towards it, let them search their way, there in no right or wrong path as long as destination is same……
Thank you for showing us the reality.