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118
Hermann Kuhn
Answer: There are two kinds of beings: those, who direct their life towards the achievement of liberation (bhavya) and those who mainly care about worldly life (abhavya).
Those who seriously aspire liberation, possess a special sense of discrimination: they know intuitively what knowledge and what lines of action will bring them closer to their goal. This does not mean to give up any part of worldly life, but only to arrange it in such a way that it enhances the growth of their consciousness.
All those who do not aspire liberation concentrate mainly on the material range of reality (sometimes on its more subtle aspects like art etc.). But as intelligent, clear and comprehensive the knowledge and perception of a worldly person may appear, they are and will remain temporary and do not contribute to their inner growth. Each so-called progress is accidental and unstable55.
The next sutra continues to answer the objection:
SUTRA 32 सदसतोरविशेषाद्यदृच्छोपलब्धेरुन्मत्तवत् ॥ ३२ ॥
Sadasato ravisesadya drichchhopa labdhe runmattavat (32)
Someone trapped in error does not discriminate between the real and the unreal. Like a lunatic he as
55 We ourselves decide to which class of beings we want to belong. We either develop our potential abilities which are available to all beings, or we don't. We are bhavya when we follow our notion of growth and actively strive for the unfoldment of our consciousness. If we do not follow this notion (abhavya) we consequently will not reach liberation.
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