How does the concept of Maya work? What examples are given to illustrate its deceptive nature?

Maya is the power of illusion that makes the non-existent appear real, and as Chapter 50 notes, even the wise can be helpless before it. The text provides several powerful examples to illustrate this. A common illusion is mistaking a rope for a snake in the dark, or perceiving the shimmer of silver in a seashell where there is none. Another example is the phenomenon of a mirage, where the sun's rays create the false appearance of water. A particularly vivid illustration is given with a lit firebrand (kolit); when it is whirled around rapidly, it creates the illusion of a solid 'circle of fire' (Agni-kankan), even though the circle itself has no independent existence. These examples demonstrate how Maya projects a delusory world that seems real but is not.