More Magic

Hridayananda Maharaj and company have commented brilliantly on magic, comparing magical illusions to the prime illusion of maya, or perceiving the body to be the self. They write:

'When a magician performs his tricks onstage, that which the audience apparently sees is an illusion. But the magician actually exists, and the hat and rabbit exist, although the appearance of a rabbit coming out of a hat is an illusion.

Similarly, when the living entity identities himself as part and parcel of the material world, thinking, "I am American," "I am Indian," "I am Russian," "I am black," "I am white," he is bewildered by the magic of the Lord's illusory potency. The conditioned soul must come to understand, "I am a pure spirit soul, part and parcel of Krishna."'
(Srimad Bhagavatam 11.3.37/Purport).