Sridharan's question

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Here is what Ramanujacharya has to say about action in inaction and

inaction in action as translated from Sanskrit by Swami Adidevanada.

"Here by the term 'non-action', the knowledge of the self, which is

distinct from action and which forms the subject under consideration, is

meant. 'He who sees non-action in action and also action in non-action,'

denotes him who can perceive knowledge of the selfeven while action is

being performed and who can also perceive action while engaged in

non-action i.e. knowledge of the self. What is the import of this saying?

What is taught here is this: One can perceive, by constant contemplation

on the truth about the self, that the action that is being performed in

itself is a form of knowledge. One can also perceive that this knowledge

is also of the form of Karma because of its being contained in Karma Yoga.

Both these (i.e action if the form of knowledge and knowledge in the form

of actions) areaccomplished by contemplation on the true nature of the

self, even while work is being performed. Thus, he who can see actions as

included in contemplation on the reality of the self, is wise, i.e., he

knows the full meaning of the Sastras; he is fit among men (to attain

release). He alone has fulfilled all actions, or carried out the entire

purpose of the Sastras. [The purport is that no contradiction between

knowledge and action is felt by one who knows the philosophy of the self.!

 

Jaganath.