VERSE 23

We sleep in the night and dream. In the dream we experience many hardships and cares. During the dream we suffer much pain but on waking, 0 that vanishes and we feel great relief. Sri Sankara compares life to a dream and says that the cares and pains of life are like the cares and pains in a dream.

Who are you? Who am I? Who is my mother, and who is my father? Reflect on this. You will then realize that the world and its cares are but the cares and anxieties of a dream, and you will be able then to free yourself from that dream.

We speak of something as 'I', 'I', and suffer great fear, difficulty and anger. What is that 'I'? 'Reflect', says Sri Sankara. 'The distinction of 'You' and 'I' subsist only so long as there is the body.

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