Each creature has it’s own way of “seeing” the world. No one disputes this. But only humans “see the world” as humans can see the world, just as only bovines see the world as only bovines can.
Only humans see the world as humans see the world. The great error of the “cycle of illusion” believers is that reality is not real.
That belief is quite believable if one desperately wants “off the cycle” of the world, out of despair because the world is perceived as “evil” and pointless and simply an evil distraction from “puritanical soul-only-ness”, but that belief leads only to utter despair and the false “nirvana” of “I don’t care for creation or any other creature anymore!”
When reality becomes unreal, the unreal run rampant. The “goal” of this “anti-Mahamaya”, anti-great-delusion, is pure nothingness.
Christians take the position that the world is real, and for our edification.
I prefer the goal of finding goodness in reality much more sensible than finding nothing in reality.
This text isn’t “anti-Mahamaya” or anti reality, on the contrary it is calling Mahamaya the Highest God:
“She creates this entire universe, both moving and unmoving. It is she who, when propitious, becomes a boon-giver to human beings for their final liberation. She is the supreme knowledge, the cause of final liberation, and eternal; she is the cause of the bondage of transmigration and the sovereign over all lords.”
I don’t think it is saying that the “final liberation” is “nothingness” In fact, my understanding is that final liberation is an eternal relationship with God. I don’t see how this is all that different that what Christianity teaches.
From Srimad Bhagavadgita (15:18-20)
sri bhagavan uvacha:
yasmat ksaram atito’ham aksarad api chottamah
ato’smi loke vede cha prathitah purusottamah (18)
yo mam evam asammudho janati purusottamam
sa sarva-vid bhajati mam sarva-bhavena bharata (19)
iti guhyatamam sastram idam uktam mayanagha
etad buddhva buddhiman syat krta-krtyas cha bharata (20)
The Supreme Lord said:
"Because I am transcendental to the perishable beings and also superior to My imperishable eternal associates, My glories are sung in the world and in the scriptures as Purusottama, the Supreme Person.
O Bharat, one who is free from delusion and knows me as the Supreme Person of eternal, all conscious, blissful form, is the perfect know of full-fledged theism, and worships Me in all ways.
O pure-hearted Arjun, I have thus explained to you this most hidden treasure of all scriptures. Embracing this in their hearts, people of fine theistic knowledge attain the perfection of all their endeavors."
So there you go. The highest knowledge is knowing (having a relationship with) God…NOT “nothingness.”
I believe you’re confusing the Hindu concept of “moksa” with the Buddhist idea of “nirvana.” (Nirvana isn’t a Hindu term, actually)
“Nirvana” means “extinction,” but it isn’t “nothingness.” “Nothingness” in Buddhism isn’t “absence” it is “completeness.” “Extintion” is the ending of all that is selfish, egotistical and, dare I say, “sinful.”
Here’s the definition from “The Collected Works of Shinran; Volume II” (Jodo Shinshu Hongwanji-ha Shin Translation Series, Kyoto 1997)
“Supreme Nirvana” (Jp: mujo-nehan) Nirvana is the goal of Buddhist life, where false life is annihilated, never to emerge again,
and a new being of true compassion and true wisdom, concerned with the welfare of all beings is born. Supreme nirvana is contrasted with nirvana limited to personal emancipation.
Doesn’t sound like “finding nothing in reality.” To me it sounds more like being more grounded it true and ultimate reality than we otherwise are.
Here is a quote from Shinran’s “Notes on Essentials of Faith Alone”
“Nirvana is called extinction of passions, the uncreated, peaceful happiness, eternal bliss, true reality, dharma-body, dharma-nature, suchness, oneness, and Buddha-nature.”
Again, this doesn’t sound like “nothingness” or “emptiness” or “detachment-from-reality.” If anything it sound like a state that is connected with Ultimate Reality.
This sounds very similar to the teachings of Jesus, if you ask me.
I suggest that you do your homework before jumping to conclusions about things.
