All about ‘Moh and Maya’: How can humans rise above it (2024)

'Moh Maya' is a term that we hear very often now. Usually used in humour or casual conversations between friends, these terms are actually very powerful. ‘Moh’ refers to attachment to a certain worldly desire, and ‘Maya’ refers to the illusion or the deceptive nature of the world. Together, ‘Moh Maya’ is about the deceptive nature of the world. A world that is constantly trying to blur our vision from the ultimate truth and reality, and a world that keeps pulling us into the well of more desires.

The concept of Moh and Maya can also be understood with a comparison. The simple comparison of wish and desire.
To put it simply, a wish is a simple, often fleeting, desire we have. A wish to have something is just a want that our mind or heart signals us to get. But, it is desire that has driven humans crazy forever. A desire is more intense and dominates our actions. The desire to achieve ‘XYZ’ makes us act harder towards achieving it. The desire to be ‘more beautiful’, pushes people into starvation and procedures.
And when these desires are linked to material possessions, status, or sensory pleasures, they become the chains that bind us to 'Moh and Maya'.

'Maya', or illusion, has consumed humans within it. The illusion of a certain class, a certain high-profile car, a specific type of status, and the like have captivated humans and made them believe that the material objects and their possessions are the ultimate achievement and the reality of today’s time.
Caught in the whirlwind of ‘Maya’, people forget that these pleasures can only give them temporary satisfaction. Once the illusion of one feat is achieved, the mind immediately wanders to another, which results in an endless loop that consumes humans.

Rishis and sages, through years and years of practice, dhyaan, sadhna, and jaap rise above the attachments and illusions of the world.
They achieve a sense of inner peace, calm, and awareness that helps them rise above illusions and desires. Through deep meditation and mindfulness, they detach themselves from the changing material world and connect with their true self. Rishis and sadhus practice tapas by controlling their senses and mind, avoiding the pleasures that will come and go, and reducing their desires and attachments. Also, with time, they develop the sentiment of ‘Vairagya’, which means living in the world but staying unaffected by the pains and pleasures it gives.

One of the easiest, and most practical ways to rise above Moh Maya is to accept that it exists and to accept that there is a will above it. To rise above the desires and illusions, people should first accept their current mind space, their desires, and their attachments to the worldly, and instead of judging themselves about it, they should simply try to slowly put them away.
For example, is there an expensive coffee machine that you have had your eyes on and decided that once the salary hits your account you’ll go ahead with the purchase? Well, it's alright. Accept that you had a desire, accept that you had the means to fulfill it, but also accept that you do not need it and that it serves no higher purpose.
Instead of fighting or denying the attachments, just acknowledge them and work towards reducing their hold on us.

Even before acceptance, comes awareness. Awareness that Moh and Maya are all around us and will try to entrap us is the key to freeing yourself from it. When we are aware that certain things will shift our focus from our higher purpose, we are better equipped to evade them. As soon as the ‘Moh’ for something arises, and we are aware that it is just a desire, we can shun it away. Basic awareness allows us to question these influences and make better choices rather than being driven by desires and illusions.