Action / Inaction

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The following question came to the list - it highlights some important

aspects

of the Advanced level Hinduism course regarding ideas of 'action and

inaction'

 

 

Meg Hannent

hindu

Friday, March 16, 2001 12:10

Gita

 

 

Hello,

 

I have been reading your website because I'm studying the Bhagavad Gita as

part of my Humanities course at University. Could you please explain

'actionlesness' as the secret to this path, when at the beginning of the

paragraph you say 'Action is better than inaction'. Isn't " inaction " and

" actionlessness " the same thing?

 

Thanks,

 

Meg Hannent

 

=========reply========================

Dear Meg

 

The words 'Actionlessness' and 'inaction'.

It can be suggested that the words have different meanings but

rather than get caught up with semantics let us try and get to the

heart of the matter.

 

Both the words can be interpreted in two ways:

One to describe a state of awareness - 'transcending action' (a state of

self realisation)

Or secondly a state of inertia. (Just downright laziness)

 

Krishna says - it is better to be active than exist in a state of inertia.

But further along in the Gita we come across the verse:

" The wise sees action in inaction and inaction in action " .

This may appear as a riddle and seems to contradict the earlier verse

saying 'action is better than inaction'.

It is in fact this verse that hides the gem of the Vedantic teachings.

 

All theologies boil down to the same problem:

How can something 'perfect' (the 'real self' loosely called the soul)

get involved with something so 'imperfect' (worldly affairs)?

The answer is in this verse ...... In reality the perfect only

appears to have got mixed up with the (or as the) imperfect.

Religion in practice means being able to make this distinction.

 

To explain: Inaction in Action:-

All the activities 'I' do are really nature acting and interacting with

itself.

'I' am merely the witness, the substratum in which all this occurs. I

have never been the 'doer' - I am a mere observer.

(hence see inaction in action)

 

'Action amidst Inaction' is more elaborate:-

At philosophic level:

Even though 'I' am the 'absolute' it is only by observing the play of the

'relative'

that 'I' can become aware of its true non-relative nature. Without the

relative the

absolute cannot be comprehended. Hence see 'action' as the basis that

reveals 'inaction'.

At Practical level:

Spiritual progress requires making the distinction between the 'self' and

the 'ego'.

Speciality of the ego is that it always feels that it is the doer.

So play along with the ego and observe how the 'action' of the ego operates

amidst the 'inaction' of the self.

 

Hope this helps a little....

 

regards

jay

Vivekananda Centre London