Ghosts, Spirits & Maya — Are They the Same or Different?

A sister sent in a question — "Brother, I always thought Maya meant the five vices — lust, anger, greed, attachment, ego — and that these were the ghosts. But in your videos, you talk about jinns, wandering spirits, Brahma-rakshasas, and pishaachs. So what exactly is Maya? Is it the five vices or these ghosts and spirits?"

This was one sister's question. But this same confusion lives in the minds of thousands. And without clearing this confusion, neither can we understand the obstacles in life — nor find freedom from them.

So today we will answer this one question with great depth — because once this is understood, a person becomes capable of stepping out of every obstacle in life on their own.

First, Understand This — Who Am I?

Before we can understand Maya, we must understand who we are. When we think about ourselves, we think of our name, our caste, our job, our position. This becomes our identity.

But all of this is perishable. This body is perishable. All the titles attached to it are perishable. I am an imperishable soul — that conscious energy which is operating this body. This body is merely the medium of the soul, not the soul itself.

And it is this very soul that leaves one body and takes another. Whatever karmas it performs in one lifetime, it settles their accounts in the next. This journey is endless. And throughout this journey, the web of Maya is laid out.

What is Maya — The Real Answer

Maya is that force which causes the soul to stray from its true nature. That which makes the soul forget that it is a peaceful, pure, love-filled, blissful being.

And this straying happens — through the five vices. Lust, anger, greed, attachment, and ego — all five, and their smaller forms such as jealousy, hatred, laziness, and carelessness — these are Maya. These are the Mayavi (illusory) forces. These are the real ghosts.

When the vice of lust takes over — the gaze becomes impure. A person who could never have committed any crime ends up committing a heinous act. When anger takes over — the intellect burns. What was never even imagined comes to pass. When greed takes over — the fire of "I need more than others" keeps burning inside. When attachment takes over — the mistakes of those we love become invisible to us. And when ego takes over — "everyone should be beneath my feet" — this feeling consumes life entirely.

Together, all five form a collective energy. This is Maya. And under their influence, we cause pain to others — and then suffer ourselves.

So Then, What Are Ghosts and Spirits?

Here lies the real mystery — one that, once understood, can eliminate fear forever.

A spirit is a soul just like us. The only difference is — it has no body. And some vice-energy is dominating it.

Take an example. There was a daughter-in-law. Her in-laws doused her with kerosene and set her on fire — out of greed for dowry. As she burned, an intense rage was alive within her — "What have these people done to me. I will take revenge." The body was reduced to ashes. But that anger — it stayed with the soul.

That soul became imprisoned in the energy of anger. And now, as a spirit, it torments those people and their family. Why? Because of Maya. The Maya called anger has bound it.

So the spirit is not Maya — it is a victim of Maya. Just as we can fall prey to Maya, so can it. The only difference is — it no longer has a body.

How Are Jinns and Pishaachs Created?

Some tantrics carry a greed — to increase their power. And the real path to increasing power is sadhana — raising one's spiritual state. But sadhana takes time and requires tapasya (austerity).

So a shortcut is found — capture a soul whose body has left. Influence that soul with tantric mantras until it forgets its true identity. Tell it — "You are a jinn, you are a pishaach, you are my slave. Do whatever I command."

This is the greatest atrocity committed against a soul. Make someone forget their true identity — and turn them into your weapon. This is the secret behind jinns and pishaachs.

So a soul that was once an ordinary human being has now become the slave of a tantric. And this slavery exists — because of the Maya of the tantric's greed and ego.

The Swadarshanam Chakra Cuts the Throat of Maya — But How?

It is well known that "by using the Swadarshanam Chakra, the throat of Maya is cut." But a question arises — if someone is already dead, how can they die again?

The answer is this — the Swadarshanam Chakra does not cut the spirit. It cuts the energy of the vice that is dominating that soul.

When the energy of the Swadarshanam Chakra arrives — the influence of the vice-energy that had imprisoned the spirit is immediately severed. And the moment that influence is cut — the soul suddenly has a realisation. "What am I doing? I am a conscious energy. I am a soul."

And when that realisation comes — the soul is liberated from its bondage. It moves forward on its onward journey. And it stops troubling you.

Every Vice Has a Reverse — That Is the Real Weapon

Maya has five vices. And God has five virtues — which are the opposite energies to these vices.

Lust — which gives an impure gaze. Its reverse is purity. When you radiate the energy of purity — the energy of lust is severed.

Anger — which burns the intellect. Its reverse is peace. Send the energy of peace to an angry soul — it begins to free itself from its anger.

Greed — the fire of "I need more than others." Its reverse is contentment and abundance. "As a soul, I am complete in everything" — this feeling cuts greed.

Attachment — which binds one so tightly to a particular form that right and wrong become invisible. Its reverse is pure love. See them as a soul — wish for their wellbeing, don't bind them in a single form.

Ego — "Everyone should be beneath me." Its reverse is the sense of being an instrument (nimit bhaav). "I am not doing this — God is getting it done through me." When this instrument-consciousness comes — the root of ego is severed.

Why You Must Stop Fearing Ghosts and Spirits

The spirit is a soul just like us. We are in a body; it is without one. We eat food; it cannot. When we speak, we are heard; when it speaks, no one listens.

The poor soul does not want to wander as a spirit. It wants to be free. But some vice-energy has it bound. And it has some old account to settle with you.

So do not fear. Work for its liberation. Say — "Whichever soul this is, present in my life — it is in this form because of some karma of mine. May the power of God's peace and purity reach it. May it be freed from the influence of vices. May it recognise its true nature. May it be released from all bondage."

When you make this intention with this feeling — that power reaches that soul. And gradually it begins to be freed. And when it is freed — your obstacles also begin to lift.

Ghosts, Spirits and Maya — Same or Different?

A spirit is not Maya — it is a victim of Maya. Just as we can fall prey to Maya.

And for that which is a victim of Maya — we have the means to free it from Maya. God's peace, purity, pure love, contentment, and the sense of being an instrument — these are the five answers to the five vices.

Keep freeing yourself from these vices. And keep sending the power to be freed from these vices to the souls that have come into your life. This is the real sadhana of life. And this is the only path to freedom from all obstacles.