Isvara is Brahman, the Origin of Maya

Even dream theory does not find Sri Jiva in agreement. According to this, portions of unlimited Brahman dream of being something they are not. Awakening to transcendental knowledge makes them realize that they are nothing but Brahman himself. But these ideas could not sustain a dispute, so the Acarya calls them foolish deviations that distance themselves from the truth, since this and other Mayavada theories are incapable of proving anything.

Whoever tries to reduce everything to the combination of Brahman and Avidya falls into a series of irresolvable contradictions. In fact, by the most elementary logic, pure Brahman could only remain uncontaminated forever due to the perfect absence of contact with Avidya. And since the jivas (which are but portions of Brahman) have evidently come into contact with Avidya, it follows that jiva and Brahman cannot be the same thing.

Isvara is Brahman, which is the origin of Maya, covering the jiva when obscured by ignorance; in the light of direct experience and on the basis of Scripture, this Maya belongs to Isvara. Therefore, logically, Isvara and jiva cannot be the same thing.

How can Avidya exist within someone who is a pure and perfect Vidya? This would be impossible since the two essences would cancel each other out.

This is a section of the book “Tattva Sandarbha”, in English.

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