[Maya.] Maya or Prakriti consists of Vidya and Avidya. Vidya is that energy which leads Godward. It manifests itself as discrimination (Viveka), non-attachment (Vairagya), devotion and love of God (Bhakti, Prema). But Avidya leads to worldliness. This energy expresses itself as various passions, desire for wealth and honor, ambition, work with attachment, selfishness. All these Vidya and Avidya forces rise from the Divine Energy of Brahman--they cannot affect the Brahman. [Vijnani and Bhakta] The Vijnani realizes that the same Absolute. Brahman appears as the Personal God (Iswara), that He who is beyond all attributes is also the Personal God with all attributes and blessed qualities. The Vijnani sees that Jiva (individual ego), phenomenal world, mind, intellect, Bhakti, dispassion, knowledge--all these are the glory of the supreme Personal Deity. If these manifestations of the Divine Glory did not exist, who would have worshipped Him as the Lord of the universe? If a rich man does not possess wealth and property, but becomes bankrupt, nobody will call him rich.

[paragraph continues] Do you not see how beautiful is this world? How many varieties of phenomena--the Sun, moon, stars, various kinds of animals and vegetables, things large and small, good and bad, some men with great powers, others with few.

Vidyasagara: Is it then true, Revered Sir, that God has given to some greater powers than to others? Is the Lord partial?

[Unity in diversity.] Bhagavan: The Lord dwells as the all-pervading Being (Vibhu) equally within all living creatures great or small, nay, even in the smallest ant or animalcule. The difference lies in the manifestation of powers (Sakti), otherwise how will it be possible for one strong man to defeat ten men in a hand-to-hand fight, while a weakling will run away from the presence of an ordinary mortal?

If there were no difference in powers, why should people respect and honor you? You have no monstrosity, like two horns on the forehead, that people will come to see you out of curiosity. You have more compassion, more wisdom than others, therefore people come to see you and pay respects to you. Do you not think so?

There is nothing in mere book-learning.

[paragraph continues] [Book-learning.] One should study books simply to find out the ways by which He (the Absolute Brahman) can be realized.

A holy man had a manuscript with him. Some one asked what it contained. The saint opened it and showed that on every page was written the sacred formula "Om Rama, "the holy name of the Lord.