What role does ‘maya’ play in preventing us from realizing God?

God is the un-manifest, nameless, formless, part less infinite Self. God assumes the role of creator and through his creative power (maya) creates this entire world of things and beings.

The manifest world by ‘maya’ is very evident and appears solid and real. It is our field of work and livelihood from which we reap joys and sorrows. Many therefore forget the infinite and un-manifest substratum and consider the manifest world itself as their God. Further it is through the body, senses and mind that we interact with the world and being so closely associated with them we consider the manifested instruments alone as ourselves and completely ignore the infinite God because of whom they function. 

‘Worshiping finite deities for desire fulfillment prevents us from knowing God.’ Explain.

Deities are finite and are designed by the God itself, to boost the mechanism of desires. Human being full of lust of different desires went to different deities for fulfillment of their desires and they meet their desires and again remain tied with the all three virtues of ‘maya’. Not realizing that God is the main source of power, we worship deity as the God and consider that deity alone is our wish-fulfiller. But desires and fulfillment of desires are poison for a spiritual seeker. Because desires, actually enrich the ignorance. Fulfillment of one desire comes with lust of so many desires and one never can come out of world of desires and chapter of GOD realization would never start. 

Divine Vision

The whole world is pervaded by God. God is in all beings. Vision of looking infinite Self or divinity or God everywhere and in all is called as divine vision. Man of realization sees God in all. So he naturally reveres, loves and serves all. There are example of so many saints in Indian Scripture who were have a divine vision – Sant Eknath, Goswami Tulsidas.