If a shopkeeper gives you exactly what you ask for, you will just take it and come home. If he says, "I don't have exactly what you ask for. But I have a substitute." Then a conversation will start between you and him; an attachment will start forming between you and him; you will go to him again and again." Maya (Space-Time) is that shopkeeper. It never gives you exactly what you want.

A farmer feels insecure because of unseasonal rains, lack of rains, pests etc. He hopes to get stability in life when his children get jobs in city. A job goer is stressed due to insecurities of corporate world. She dreams of a peaceful and stable life somewhere in a remote village where she would grow her own food and eat. Mind keeps looking for peace and stabilitysomewhere in future. And that's the trap.

If it's easy to get into something but nearly impossible to get out, it's called a trap. But traps of Maya are not that obvious. It's difficult to get into them. Hence they are more attractive to us. In fact, we compete with each other to get into them.

A man left home in morning with 1 Rupee. He gambled with it and made millions. Then lost them all. He returned home in evening empty handed. His wife is clueless why loss of just 1 Rupee has drowned his husband in so much depression that he is not speaking a word. This is the illusion or Maya.

Even if you leave a negative comment on a video, youtube algorithm thinks that you want more such videos in your feed. The universe works in the same way. Don’t engage with the type of things that you don’t want in your life.

A few trees stand at a distance from each other. All have rough trunks. Each thinks that the other have smooth trunk because everything looks smooth from a distance. They all are chasing a smoothness that doesn't even exist. This is Maya.

If you desire to drink water, the Space-Time (Maya) says, “Walk these many steps and reach the fridge. Take out the water bottle and drink.”By fulfilling these small desires without any trick, Maya proves that she is fair. When you try to fulfill bigger desires, she tricks you and traps you. Then you can’t even blame her because she has already proved herself as fair. Then you blame yourself and fall deeper into the mess.

A rich man exploits the poor and then donates some money to a temple. Then temple helps the poor. These are circles of life. If you try to break them, you will end up becoming a part of them. Have compassion for everyone involved in the circles, including yourself. This is the only way to be free from them.

Difference between ego and identity: You hold an identity to enjoy the Leela (divine play). Ego holds you and pulls you into Maya (illusionary trap).