There is a controversy as to the meaning of Maya. The Orthodox Advaitic School says it is a Shakti of Brahman whereby both illusion and creation are brought about.+

There is a controversy as to the meaning of Maya.  The Orthodox  Advaitic School says it is a Shakti of Brahman whereby both illusion and creation are brought about. 

But how does one know that it is the truth? If one bases it on the sayings of  Gurus and Saints, even granting that they honestly believed in their experiences, there is still the query of how they know that these experiences were the truth.  

Even insane persons believe in what they see and feel, and yet their experiences are often quite untrue. What then is it in us which ascertains the truth of these experiences? 

If you say it is anubhava, a mystic experience, then my experience differs from yours: Such disagreement does not settle the matter. 

Thus, these are the two common sources--authority and Samadhi--but both are shown untenable. Some object that the differences of Samadhi or anubhava experience are like different parts seen of the same single elephant. 

But how can you prove that it is the same elephant, and how can you know that each man is seeing the same part? Others say that the mystic experience always gives the same result in peace and bliss. But one can only assume this: it is impossible to know whether the taste of sugar in one man’s mouth is the same as its taste in another’s. For to know you would have to use his tongue and his mouth, which is impossible: you can only assume.

Remember:~

To realize what is meant by Maya, you study the universe because consciousness is the cause of the universe and also the witness of the matter.

The universe is the matter, and the Spirit is the Soul, the Self, which is present in the form of consciousness us the cause of the matter. 

Hold the universe as matter and the Soul, the Self as the Spirit. In reality, matter and Spirit are one in essence. 

The matter is nothing but an illusion created out of the Spirit. 

 Show myself in both matter and the knower of matter." You must begin with the external world because it lies before you first. How can you understand the inner self correctly if the world that is in front of you is not correctly understood?

Chapter II, Verse 49 says, "Seek thou shelter in reason. It enjoins you to fall at the feet of Buddhi, i.e., not to pray to God but to prostrate before reason. Verse 50 says, "He who is endowed with buddhi casts off shackles." The translator has wrongly interpreted the word "Buddhi" as meaning "Wisdom." Chap.III.25 "The Gnani should work for the welfare of others," says Sankara. The only difference is that he has no attachment.

In Chap.IV "For a doubter there is neither this world nor next" means once you begin to inquire, you must pursue it to the end, never stop, or you will lose what you have and get nothing to replace it.

"I am the seer of all" means Atman is the common factor of all the 'I's.

Chap.IV "By long prostrations" the chela gets truth means constant, i.e. long killing of the ego it is not done in a single stroke, but long-continued effort.

If we had not this world of evil, we would not think of overcoming it and making an effort to realize Atman. Gita teaches the same lesson: Overcome evil, Arjuna, and help others to overcome; and don't sit quiet in a cave.

Make the universe your laboratory and there test all statements through your observation and experiment; there verify if they are true or not. Those who do not understand this flee from the world, sit quietly in mystic mediation, and delude themselves into the belief that they are not acting! But the sage sees action in such pseudo-inaction, as Gita says. Knowledge must be brought to bear upon life in the world and is by the enlightened man.

There is no difference between a Gnani and an avatar other than that the latter reincarnates for a special purpose or work, whereas the former comes for the general purpose of helping the world. Also, Krishna says in Gita that he, the Avatara, incarnates when wickedness becomes intolerable. (Note the word used by the translator, "when wickedness prevails" is not correct, it should be intolerable.):~Santthosh Kumaar