The Three Malas Explained: Anava, Mayiya and Karma

In the Tantric yoga scriptures, there are three malas, or impurities, that can obstruct our spiritual growth and prevent us from realizing our true nature. These malas are known as anava, mayiya, and karma. By understanding these malas and working to overcome them, we can unlock our true potential and experience greater spiritual awareness and growth.

Where Do the Three Malas Come From?

The three malas - anava mala, mayiya mala, and karma mala - are described in various Tantric texts, including the Shiva Sutras and the Vijnana Bhairava Tantra. These texts form part of the Kashmir Shaivism tradition, a school of Tantra that emerged in northern India around the 8th century CE.

In the Kashmir Shaivism tradition, the three malas are seen as fundamental limitations or obstacles on the spiritual path. They are seen as impediments that prevent us from experiencing our true nature and realizing our full potential. The malas are said to be subtle and pervasive, affecting all aspects of our being - physical, mental, and spiritual.

While the concept of the three malas is closely associated with the Kashmir Shaivism tradition, it is also found in other Tantric traditions and in various forms of yoga and spiritual practice. The malas are seen as universal limitations or obstacles that must be overcome in order to realize our true nature and experience the fullness of life. By working to overcome these malas through meditation, self-awareness, and spiritual practice, we can move towards greater freedom, liberation, and self-realization.

The Three Malas Explained: Anava Mala, Mayiya and Karma Mala

Anava Mala

Anava mala is the first and most fundamental of the three malas, and it is often described as the sense of individuality or the ego. Anav Mala is sometimes translated as the "mala of individuality" or the "mala of finitude." Anava mala is the belief that we are separate from the universe and the divine, and that our individual experiences and identities are the most important things in the world. Anava mala causes us to become attached to our thoughts, emotions, and experiences, and prevents us from experiencing the true nature of reality.

When teaching Anava mala, I often tell my students this mala represents our sense of separation and limitation, and our identification with our individual ego. Anava mala is often compared to a knot or a veil that covers our true nature and prevents us from experiencing our true selves. Anava mala can manifest in many different ways, such as feelings of isolation, disconnection, or a sense of smallness in the face of the universe. It can also show up as a tendency to cling to our personal identity and to define ourselves in terms of our roles, accomplishments, or possessions. Anava mala can be especially challenging to overcome, as it is deeply rooted in our psychology and our sense of self.

To overcome anava mala, Tantric yoga teaches us to cultivate a sense of oneness and unity with all beings. This can involve practices such as meditation, mantra, and self-inquiry, which help us to move beyond our individual ego and connect with the larger, universal consciousness. We must recognize that our sense of individuality is an illusion, and that our true nature is interconnected with all beings and the universe as a whole. By letting go of our attachment to our individual experiences and identities, we can experience a greater sense of oneness with the universe and the divine.

Mayiya Mala

Mayiya mala is the second of the three malas, and is sometimes translated as the "mala of illusion" or the "mala of duality." It is often described as the illusion of separation between the individual and the universe. Mayiya mala causes us to believe that we are separate from the divine and the universe, and that our experiences and identities are distinct from those of others. This mala represents the tendency of the mind to create dualistic concepts and distinctions, and to see the world in terms of "us" versus "them." Mayiya mala can also manifest as a tendency to identify with external appearances and to be influenced by the opinions of others.This illusion of separation causes us to become attached to our thoughts, emotions, and experiences, and prevents us from experiencing the true nature of reality.

Mayiya mala can be particularly challenging to overcome, as it is deeply ingrained in our cultural conditioning and social structures. However, Tantric yoga teaches us that the illusion of duality is ultimately an illusion, and that all beings are interconnected and interdependent. By cultivating a sense of empathy and compassion, we can begin to move beyond the limitations of mayiya mala and see the world in a more holistic and inclusive way.

To overcome mayiya mala, we must recognize that our sense of separation from the universe and the divine is an illusion, and that our true nature is interconnected with all beings and the universe as a whole. We can do this by practicing self-inquiry, meditation, and mindfulness, and by focusing on the interconnectedness of all things. By letting go of our attachment to our individual experiences and identities, we can experience a greater sense of oneness with the universe and the divine.

Karma Mala

Karma mala is the third of the three malas, and and is sometimes translated as the "mala of action" or the "mala of karmic conditioning." It is often described as the impurity of action. Karma mala causes us to become attached to the actions we take, the results we achieve, and the rewards we receive for our actions. This mala represents the ways in which our past actions and conditioning can limit our present experience and future potential. Karma mala can manifest in many different ways, such as habitual patterns of behavior, limiting beliefs, and unconscious biases. This attachment to the fruits of our actions prevents us from acting selflessly and without attachment, and can lead to negative consequences for ourselves and others.

To overcome karma mala, we must learn to act selflessly and without attachment to the results of our actions. We can do this by practicing karma yoga, or the yoga of action, which involves acting without attachment to the fruits of our actions and with the intention of serving others and the universe as a whole. By focusing on the process of our actions rather than the results, we can overcome our attachment to the fruits of our actions and experience a greater sense of spiritual growth and awareness.

Karma mala can be particularly challenging to overcome, as it requires us to confront and work through our past conditioning and patterns of behavior. However, Tantric yoga teaches us that we have the power to transform our karma and create new patterns of action and behavior. By practicing mindfulness and self-awareness, we can begin to recognize the ways in which our past conditioning is limiting our present experience, and we can begin to take steps to change these patterns and create a new, more liberated future.

In conclusion, the three malas of Tantric yoga scriptures - anava, mayiya, and karma - are impurities that can obstruct our spiritual growth and prevent us from realizing our true nature. By understanding these malas and working to overcome them through self-inquiry, meditation, mindfulness, and the practice of karma yoga, we can unlock our true potential and experience greater spiritual awareness and growth.

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