indifference and inaction

[Guest guest]

An observation: indifference and inaction are not

the same thing; indifference is a state of mind which

does not preclude action. The ancient Stoics used to

follow the principle "be indifferent to indifferent

things" - indifferent things being things which are not

in our power (like the behavior of other club

members) - but they also held that one was still obligated

to act in whatever way reason and morality dictated

in any given situation. You find the same principle

in Karma Yoga, which requires action without

attachment to what one is interacting with or even the

ultimate outcome of one's actions. Ghandi was an excellent

example of this: he always fought against what he

perceived to be evil, but always with indifference,

nonattachment and compassion.

[Guest guest]

insightful post. thanks. my common usage of the

word 'indifference' obscurs my ability to understand

clearly what you and trinka are meaning when you propose

an indifferent state of mind. much learning to go it

is fair to say, however, that on the non-attachment

talent scale, i'm a failure

[Guest guest]

Trinka and I may not have the same thing in mind,

I'll leave it to her to confirm. My meaning of

indifference is roughly synonomous with dispassion in

judgements, leading to one's judgment and actions being

guided by reason and moral principle instead of

emotional reactions which may obscure perspective bind one

to the catalyst of those reactions. Of course, that

kind of mental discipline is rather extraordinary and

I am nowhere nearly so evolved myself (assuming I

even know what I'm talking about , but I do try to

keep it in mind.