18.56

Though pleased he is not pleasured; though pained he does not suffer. This wonderful state is understood only by those like him.

18.57

The belief in duty

creates a relative world

for its performance.

The wise one knows Himself

to be formless, timeless, all-pervasive, immaculate,

and thus transcends duty and world.

18.58

Even doing nothing

the dull one is anxious and distracted. Even amidst great action the wise one remains still.

18.59

Even in practical life

the wise one remains happy. Happy to sit,

happy to sleep,

happy to move about,

happy to speak, happy to eat…

18.60

Because he knows Self

the wise one is not disrupted by practical life. He is deep and still, like a vast lake.

He is not like ordinary people.

His sorrows have vanished.

18.61

For the deluded one,

even rest is an activity.

For the wise,

even action bears the fruit of stillness.