Here we discuss the fundamental concepts of Maya and Prakriti that, in turn, are closely related to Brahman.

Brahman is not something away from or superior to living beings. The Brahman, the imperishable one, is a dormant state. We are part of a common source of the external cause, which is Brahman. All that we see, living or non-living, is the manifestation of one

Brahman. As per the holy books, Brahman has no material qualities, no form and can be considered both living and non-living at the same time.

But we see infinite variations in this world! This is Maya, the power of creation. It is because of Maya that we see different types of living and non-living things around us, created out of the same fundamental source, that is, Brahman. It is Maya that creates all the variations through the force of nature (Prakriti). It is this prakriti that acts upon different things and causes them to become different and to behave differently (i.e. gives different properties to different things).

It is Prakriti that makes certain inherent traits (gunas) innate in various existences to become active and predominant. All living and non-living beings, though formed from the same Brahman, are under the control of Maya, and are guided by their natures.

Maya binds living beings to actions as well as to the fruits of their actions. In this context, they have no independent identity or control over their own actions.

—The 4-Lane Expressway to Stress Management