Smartists treat maya as the cosmic “magic trick” that makes the one reality, Brahman, appear as countless separate forms. It isn’t dismissed as mere fantasy, nor glorified as the ultimate; rather, it’s seen as the power (śakti) by which the eternal becomes the temporal, the infinite takes shape as this world.

Maya isn’t evil, but neutral—more like a hall of mirrors than a devil’s contrivance. By superimposing names and forms onto the formless, it keeps sight fixed outward. Everything experienced—time, space, even the sense of “I” versus “you”—is tinted by this universal lens. In everyday terms, it’s akin to scrolling through social-media filters: the same face looks dramatically different depending on which overlay is applied.

In Smartism’s non-dual vision, all chosen deities—Shiva, Vishnu, Devi, Surya, Ganesha—are simply different doorways into Brahman’s one backyard. Maya sets up those doors, provides the architecture for devotion and ritual, and yet subtly veils that they’re all the same house. Worship, mantra, meditation and scriptural study act like powerful lenses or VR headsets that gradually peel back layers of illusion, helping the seeker recognize the underlying unity.

Rather than rejecting emotional devotion (“bhakti”) or ceremonial worship (“karma”), Smartism invites a balanced approach. While deity-focus soothes the heart, philosophical inquiry (“jnana”) shines the lantern through maya’s fog. The ultimate goal is not to demolish the cosmos, but to realize its playfulness (līlā)—to see the world’s beauty, drama and suffering as expressions of the one Self.

Modern parallels pop up everywhere: cognitive science shows how the brain stitches together perceptions into a seamless “reality,” yet that tapestry can be unraveled by a sudden optical illusion or deepfake video. In the same way, spiritual practice in Smartism teaches that what feels solid is malleable, and that recognizing the trick opens freedom. When the final veil lifts, the many deities, the rituals, even maya itself are enjoyed as divine artistry—rather than traps—celebrating life’s grand show without ever losing sight of the unchanging, infinite witness behind it all.