You see, this world is a world of maya, delusion, and man is kept hypnotized with that delusion. Our mind has convinced us of so many limitations. Someone says, “I must have my cof- fee.” Another says, “I must have my juicy piece of steak,” and so on.
It is a crazy world. I see it so clearly. But I follow the rules—as much as I want to, and then I say, “Down with rules! It is the mind that rules.” And it works.
Death was such a reality, life was such a reality, but they are no more real for me. Never was I born, though in my dreams of earth life I was bom many times. And never have I died, though many times I dreamed the death of my body in this dream world. In this one incarnation I can sleep and dream that I am bom in England as a powerful king.
Then I die and dream I am bom a devout man. And then I die again and am born as a successful lawyer. Again I die and am rebom as Yogananda. But they are all dreams. That is what I am saying. I used to find such pleasure in discovering my past incarnations. But that has lost its enchant- ment. They are just so many dreams. When I realized everything is mind stuff, and that it is God’s thought which is creating all these things, all these dreams all the time, then it had a differ- ent meaning for me.
God can dissolve these dreams any time and bring them back again in better forms. But nothing is erased from the Infinite Mind; every dream is eternally imprinted there.
Delusion is so strong that it is pretty hard to believe it is delusion when you have needs and no money to meet them. It is difficult to believe that this world is maya when you are sick and suffering. But when you constantly keep your mind in God, you will realize that this world is His dream.
~ Paramhansa Yogananda
The Divine Romance
Bhavin