lokamáls

Lokamáls is a term that appears in ancient Indian philosophical and religious texts, most notably in the Upanishads. It refers to the ordinary, empirical world of experience, the realm of conventional reality as perceived by human senses and intellect. This world is characterized by duality, change, and the illusion of individual selfhood. It is the realm where beings are subject to the cycles of birth, death, and rebirth, driven by karma and desire.

In contrast to lokamáls, spiritual traditions often speak of a higher reality, a transcendent truth or ultimate consciousness, such as Brahman. The journey of spiritual realization is often described as a process of moving beyond the limitations and illusions of lokamáls to apprehend this ultimate reality. Understanding lokamáls is therefore crucial for comprehending the spiritual path as it is presented in many Indian philosophical systems. It represents the starting point of the seeker's journey, the world that must be understood, transcended, or sometimes, even redeemed. The concept highlights the distinction between the relative and the absolute, the phenomenal and the noumenal.