The Peace of Self-Realization: Living Beyond Ego and Desire
Chapter 2 v.69-72
Learn how steady wisdom, freedom from desire, and union with the Infinite transform daily life into divine fulfillment.
The peace and freedom arises from being anchored in the divine Self.
The final verses of Chapter Two offer a luminous vision of the awakened one — what it means to live anchored in the divine Self—free from desire, awake in truth, and established in peace.
The Sage Who Sees
Chapter Two of the Bhagavad Gita concludes with a profound vision of what it means to be fully awake—anchored in the fullness of the divine Self. These closing verses offer both a mirror and a map: a mirror to reflect how we are living, and a map to show us the way to lasting peace.
Verse 2.69 opens with a paradox that invites deeper contemplation:
“What is night for all beings is the time of waking for the disciplined soul. What is the time of waking for all beings is night for the sage who sees.”
This verse seems puzzling at first—why would the sage be awake in the night and asleep during the day? It’s not a commentary on sleep patterns or meditation habits, but a teaching about perception and realization.
"Freedom is not escape—it is the fullness of being, unshaken by gain or loss, unmoved by desire."
—Yogacharya Ellen Grace O'Brian
Awakening Beyond the World’s Illusions
Before awakening, we live caught up in ego drives, thinking we are fully conscious, yet we are, in truth, sleepwalking through life. The world dazzles us with duality—me and you, this and that, good and bad—and we remain unaware of the unity of life, the divine presence in all.
But the sage sees differently. What the unawakened regard as reality, the sage knows to be unreal—subject to change, unreliable, and the source of sorrow. The sage perceives a deeper reality, one not visible to the senses or mind. It is as if the world that seems so bright to others is darkness to the sage, while what seems obscure or hidden to most is a radiant light of divine presence.
This teaching invites us to reflect on our own journey. What has changed in your perception since you began walking the spiritual path? Where do you now look for happiness or security? How do you see what you once could not see? The contrast between spiritual awakening and sleep is like night and day.
Anchored in Peace: The Ocean of the Self
Verse 2.70 offers an exquisite metaphor for steadfast wisdom:
“As rivers flow into the ocean but cannot make the vast ocean overflow, so flow the streams of the sense world into the sea of peace that is the sage. But this is not so with the desire of the desirous.”
Here is a picture of what it means to be unshaken by the world. When we are ego-driven, the flow of events, thoughts, and sense experiences disturbs our peace. But when we are anchored in the Self, the world continues to flow—rivers continue to run—but they do not overwhelm us.
The sage abides in inner fullness. Sense impressions come and go, but they no longer ignite restless longing or aversion. This is not suppression—it is transcendence. Action arises from soul-guidance, not reactivity. We are not pushed or pulled. We are guided.
And this is not an abstraction. With spiritual practice, we begin to taste this freedom. Moments of stillness. Clarity. Insight. A calm that holds steady, even in change. These are promises, yes—but also real experiences that beckon us forward.
The Peace of Letting Go: Living Without Longing
Verse 2.71 continues the teaching on freedom from desire:
“The person attains peace who, abandoning all desires, moves about without longing, without a sense of ‘mine’ or egoism.”
This is the portrait of a jivan mukta—one who is liberated while living. No longer driven by “I want,” “I own,” or “I do,” such a person moves freely in the world, supported by the Divine. What is needed comes unbidden. Life flows through them, not around them.
We may not be fully there yet, but we catch glimpses. When the ego steps aside, we see the quiet intelligence of life providing what is needed. We realize that we don’t have to make everything happen. We begin to live in cooperation with the Infinite.
As Jesus taught: “Do not be anxious for your life... Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow.” The spiritual life is not one of lack but of trust in divine sufficiency.
The Supreme Fulfillment: Abiding in the Divine State
The final verse of this chapter, verse 2.72, crowns the teaching:
“This is the divine state, Arjuna. Having attained this, one is not deluded. Fixed in it, even at the hour of death, one reaches the bliss of God.”
What is described here is a state of nonreturn. Once awakened from avidya—wrong identification with the body-mind complex—the soul cannot again believe the illusion of separation.
And even if the journey has been long—even if all attachments have not yet been released—this verse offers a promise: it is still possible, even in the final hour, to awaken. But as my guru Roy Eugene Davis would say, “Why wait? That’s cutting it too close.” And he would add, “Besides, the awakened life now is so much more enjoyable.”
So we are called to begin now. The second chapter of the Bhagavad Gita has laid out everything we need: the nature of the Self, the power of desire, the workings of the mind, and the promise of steady wisdom. As we continue into Chapter Three, we will begin to explore how to live it all more fully.
Listen to the full podcast episode below.
Bhagavad Gita, pt 19: Journey from Darkness to Light
Chapter 2 v. 69-72
The final verses of chapter two offer insights into the inner journey. The significance of detaching from desires and egoism is discussed, leading to inner peace and joy. The journey from darkness to light is reflected upon, revealing the path to living a liberated life and experiencing the divine bliss, despite life's challenges. Join this journey from darkness to light as the true essence of the Self is uncovered.
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