Beginning the Real Life - when this covering is shattered
A man's problems comprise chiefly of things of his own making. Just as God, through Divine will, brought into effect this vast creation, so did the man bring into effect his own tiny creation by his own will. The result was that his real self got completely enwrapped within the thick covering of grossness. Now the agencies working for it are mainly manas (psyche), chit (consciousness), buddhi (intellect) and ahankar (ego). They lead to the formation of samskaras, and all these things collectively form a sort of network round the Real self. That is the true picture of our tiny creation. The only solution is to bring this creation to a state of dissolution (pralaya). When this covering is shattered off and the Real self emerges out of it, the real life of spirit (atman) begins.
Taken from the book "Letters of the Master, Vol. 1", Chapter "1955", pg. 19, by Babuji Maharaj