धूमो रात्रिस्तथा कृष्णः षण्मासा दक्षिणायनम्।
तत्र चान्द्रमसं ज्योतिर्योगी प्राप्य निवर्तते।।8.25।।
शुक्लकृष्णे गती ह्येते जगतः शाश्वते मते।
एकया यात्यनावृत्तिमन्ययाऽऽवर्तते पुनः।।8.26।।
Following this Path, the yogi, having reached the lunar light, returns, smoke, night, as also the dark fortnight and the six months of the Southern solstice.
These two paths of the world, which are white and black, are indeed considered eternal. Through one, a person goes to the state of non-return; through the other, they return again.
Osho’s Commentary
Now, the other path, the path of return. It is described with symbols of darkness: smoke (dhuma), night (ratri), the dark fortnight of the moon (krishna), and the six months of the sun’s southern course (dakshinayanam). These symbolize a consciousness that is moving downwards, towards more unconsciousness. Dhuma, smoke, is when the fire of life is clouded by desires and attachments. Ratri, night, is a state of spiritual sleep, of ignorance. Krishna, the dark fortnight, symbolizes the waning moon, a consciousness that is diminishing, losing its light. And Dakshinayanam, the southern path, symbolizes the downward flow of life-energy, towards the world, towards bondage. The yogi who departs in this state of descending darkness goes to a temporary heaven, the “lunar light,” enjoys the fruits of his good deeds, and then returns to the earth. These two paths are eternal. One leads to liberation; the other leads back to the wheel of birth and death. The choice is always yours, in every moment. Are you moving towards the light, or towards the darkness?