The realized man is awake in the light of the Self, while the ignorant is awake in the light of the senses. The realized man is awake in the light of absolute bliss, the ignorant in the light of relative joys of a perishable nature.

~ Maharishi Mahesh Yogi
[Commentary on Bhagavad Gita, Ch2, V69]

The unawakened ego submits passively to the lower influences which come to
it out of the shadows of its own long past and to the sense-stirring
suggestions which come to it out of the surroundings in which it moves. But
when it has found and surrendered to the Overself in the heart, this blind,
mechanical responsiveness comes to an end and an aroused, enlightened, fully
aware, inner rulership replaces it.

~ Paul Brunton

God made the senses turn outwards;
man therefore looks outwards,
not into himself.
Now and again a daring soul,
desiring immortality,
has looked back and found himself.

~ Katha Upanishad