Ashtavakra Gita 18.91 -

World is an abode of variety. For anyone to think and grow, comparison and contrast are necessary, nay inevitable. To discriminate matters as good and bad, useful and useless, delightful and afflicting, benevolent and maleficent is the basis for building knowledge. If there was no ground for comparison and contrast, none can gain and grow in knowledge.

But is this the wholesome note or ultimate in knowledge and knowing process? What is good now may prove bad later. When one is hungry, food is delicious for him. With his hunger appeased, the same food turns repulsive. A child grows on the lap and shoulder of the mother. Mother breastfeeds him. But as he grows, he has to outlive physical intimacy. Everywhere this kind of living and outliving is the law.

Four of the five basic elements, namely earth, water, air and fire, are separate from each other and limited. But the fifth, the space, is all-pervading. The other four are interwoven into it.

The Self, pure Consciousness, is even more so. One who dwells constantly in the Self cannot and will not foster differential notions. His sense of differentiation falls. Imbued with the truth and spirit of oneness, he is freed of all desire as well as dual notions like pleasant and unpleasant, favourable and unfavourable, blessed and cursed, etc. With that the ecstasy of the changeless Self begins to inundate him, whether he is a king or ascetic!