2.69. That which is night for all beings, in that the self-controlled man is awake; that in which all beings are awake, is night for the seer Muni.
Commentary: 'That which is night for all beings' – Those whose senses and mind are not under control, who are attached to enjoyments, are all asleep towards the Supreme Truth. What is God? What is Self-knowledge? Why are we suffering? Why is there anguish and burning? What are we doing? What will be the result of it? – To not look towards this at all is their night, their utter darkness.
Here, the intent of saying 'for all beings' is that just as animals and birds etc. remain engaged in eating and drinking all day, similarly, those human beings who remain engaged day and night in eating and drinking, in pleasure and comfort, in enjoyments and accumulation, in earning wealth alone, such human beings are also counted among animals and birds etc. The reason is that in being averse to the Supreme Truth, there is no difference between animals, birds etc. and human beings. Both are asleep towards the Supreme Truth. However, if there is any difference, it is only this much: in animals and birds etc., the power of discrimination is not awakened, therefore they remain engaged only in eating and drinking etc.; and in human beings, by the grace of God, that power of discrimination is awakened, by which they can accomplish their own welfare, can serve all beings, and can attain God. But misusing that power of discrimination, human beings become engaged in accumulating objects and enjoying them, whereby they become even more sorrow-giving for the world than animals. Because animals, poor things, eat only as much as fills their stomach, they do not hoard; but a human being, whatever objects etc. he gets anywhere, whether they are useful to him or not, he certainly hoards them and creates obstacles for others in using them.
'In that the self-controlled man is awake' – In that which is night for human beings, i.e., the aversion towards God, towards one's own welfare, in that the self-controlled man is awake. He who has brought his senses and mind under control, who is not attached to enjoyment and accumulation, whose sole aim is God, he is a self-controlled man. To know the Supreme Truth, one's own true nature, and the world in its true form – that alone is his being awake in the night.
'That in which all beings are awake' – Those who are very careful in enjoyment and accumulation, who keep account of every single penny, who are mindful of every inch of land; whatever money comes into their possession, whether justly or unjustly, they are very happy about it, thinking, "We have at least taken this much capital, we have at least gained this much profit" – in this way, they remain engaged only in gathering these worldly, momentary enjoyments and in obtaining respect, honor, prestige, greatness etc., they are very careful in these – this alone is their being awake.
'Is night for the seer Muni' – In which worldly objects, by enjoying and accumulating which, human beings consider themselves very intelligent, clever and are pleased with that alone, all that is like night in the view of the contemplative, self-controlled man who knows the world and the Supreme Truth; it is utter darkness.
For example, children play and fight among themselves over pebbles, stones, red and yellow pieces of glass. If they get them, they are pleased, thinking, "I have gained a great benefit," and if they do not get them, they become sorrowful, thinking, "I have suffered a great loss." But a wise person, in whose mind pebbles and stones etc. have no importance, understands, "What gain is there in getting these pebbles and stones, and what loss in not getting them? Even if these children get pebbles and stones, how long will they stay with them?" Similarly, human beings engaged in enjoyment and accumulation engage in quarrels, disputes, lies, deceit, dishonesty etc. for enjoyments, and upon obtaining them, they are pleased, celebrate joyfully, thinking, "We have gained a great profit." But the contemplative, self-controlled man who knows the world and the Supreme Truth clearly sees: "Enjoyments were obtained, respect and honor were received, comfort and ease were attained, we ate and drank, we adorned ourselves well – so what was achieved? What did human beings gain from this? What will go with them from these? How long will they keep these enjoyments with them? For how many days will the inclination arising from these enjoyments last?" Thus, in his view, the being awake of beings is like night.
That contemplative, self-controlled man certainly knows God, his own true nature, and the outcome of the world; he also knows objects very well – which object can be used for whose benefit, how much benefit others will get from this. He makes proper, appropriate use of objects in their respective places. He employs them in the service of others.
Just as when there is a defect in the eyes and we look at the sky, then cobweb-like things appear in it, and even upon closing the eyes, those cobweb-like things appear like peacock feathers; but despite their appearance, in our intellect there remains the firm conviction that there are no cobwebs in the sky. Similarly, even though the world appears through the senses and the inner instrument, in the intellect of the contemplative, self-controlled man there remains the firm conviction that in reality, the world does not exist, it is merely an appearance.
Connection: The world appears like night to the contemplative, self-controlled man. Upon this, this question arises: Does he not come into contact with worldly objects at all? If he does not, then how is his life sustained? And if he does, then what is his state like? To deliberate upon these matters, the next verse is spoken.
★🔗
