The sage who has realised the truth and who is liberated from error here and now beholds this world as he would in deep sleep, without the least craving. He does not apprehend with his inner intelligence even those objects and experiences which seek him unsought, for his own heart is withdrawn into itself. He has no hopes for the future, he does not recall the past nor does he even live in the present; and yet he does all Asleep, he is awake; awake, he sleeps. He does all, yet he does nothing. Inwardly having renounced everything, though outwardly he appears to be busy, he is ever in a state of equilibrium. His actions are entirely non- volitional.
The sage is unattached to anything or anybody. Hence, his behaviour appears to be devout to the devout and harsh to the harsh. He is a child among children, old man among old men, hero among heroes, youth among youth and sorrowing among the sorrowful. His soft and sweet words are full of wisdom. He has nothing to gain from noble deeds, yet he is noble; he has no longing for pleasure and hence is not tempted by it. He is not attracted to bondage or even to liberation. The net of ignorance and error having been burnt by the fire of wisdom, the bird of his con- sciousness flies away to liberation.
He is not elated when his efforts bear fruit, nor is he worried if they do not. He appears to take and to abandon with the playfulness of a child. He is not surprised if the moon shines hot and the sun shines cool. Knowing that the self which is the infinite consciousness can bring all these about, he is not surprised even by such wondrous phenomena. He is not timid and he is not given to outbursts of anger.
Knowing that beings are constantly born and that they die constantly, he does Not give way to joy or grief. He knows that the world arises in his own vision even
OTN < Se ee ee a ke | es eae