Just like in a dream whose thoughts, emotions, mental constructs are known to be an illusion when one wakes up. Now, for starters, it is best if they don't think about thoughts and emotions as an illusion. The whole point of the dream analogy is to show that the objects outside are illusory. read more
The contextual meaning of Maya in Atharvaveda is"power of creation", not illusion. Gonda suggests the central meaning of Maya in Vedic literature is,"wisdom and power enabling its possessor, or being able itself, to create, devise, contrive, effect, or do something". read more
Maya is also described in the Hindu scriptures as the play (lila) of God enacted through his creative and dynamic energy or force (shakti). It is the web of deception weaved by the universal spider (Brahman) to envelop the worlds in delusion (moha). read more