1. TECHNOLOGY
SIDDHI
AND
MAYA
DR.
SHRINIWAS
JANARDAN
KASHALIKAR

2. Technology has made many things,
thought to be impossible in the past,
easily possible!
In common language these technological
feats could be conceived and appreciated
as extraordinary achievements. In
spiritual tradition such achievements
(though through different means and
ways) are called SIDDHIS.
ADWAITA philosophy refers to the
internal and external universe as MAYA
or MITHYA, to indicate and convey its
changing, fleeting and hence deceptive
nature. I conceive MAYA as relative
reality as distinguished from absolute.
Technology validates this perspective in
many ways.

3. It is through technology (modern
siddhis) that we realize that what we see
in the immediate vicinity with naked
eyes is only apparent and the ‘reality’ of
electromagnetic radiations and microbes
is not apparent.
The transmission of news on the news
channels of electronic media; validates
with great impact, that every situation,
every person, every success or failure
and every moment, are ephemeral,
transient and fleeting!
The internet highlights the fact not
appreciable to otherwise intelligent
mind; that millions of people are reading
and thinking about what is uploaded and
millions of people are engaged in
different activities beneficial or harmful
to mankind.

4. It is however necessary to appreciate;
that whatever is apparent through
technology is also fleeting and
superficial.
In other words, it is also; relative reality
and not absolute! In fact, technology can
create illusions, delusions and thereby
hallucinatory effects leading to paranoid
feelings and behavior. For example, the
larger than life presentation of movies,
serials, reality shows, advertisements;
can create havoc, especially in young
minds. The technological feats (siddhis)
thus can unveil the maya on the one hand
and create far more illusory, deceptive
and destructive “replications of MAYA”
on the other!
What is absolute?

5. We find ultimate culmination of our life
in the absolute or cosmic consciousness.
It is in this cosmic consciousness that we
experience the ultimate of bliss, peace,
and harmony; and the way to this
“absolute” is NAMASMRAN! We
should not believe, disbelieve, accept or
discard this; blindly; but verify this
conviction; on the basis of extensive
study, discussion, contemplation and
most importantly, the practice!