Pujya Ramsukhdasji Maharaj

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Seeing Action in Inaction - Gita 4:18

 

" He, who sees inaction in action and action in inaction, is wise

among men, he is a Yogi and performs all his duties. " (Gita 4:18)

 

" Karmanyakarma yah pasyedakarmani ca karma yah

sa buddhimaanmanusyes sa yuktah krtsnakarmakrt. " (Gita 4:18)

 

Seeing " inaction in action " means, to remain detached, untainted

during performance or non-performance of actions. It means also that

performance or non-performance of actions, is not for the Self. When

a man's inner feeling is that he is the doer and so he should reap

the fruit of action, he gets bound by such actions. As actions are

perishable, with a beginning and an end, so is their fruit. But the

Self is eternal and has no affinity for the changing actions, and

their fruits. Yet, it is bound, because of desire for fruit.

Therefore the Lord says in Gita 4:14 that " Actions don't bind Me,

because I have no desire for the fruit of actions. " It is the desire

for fruit, which binds one. The Lord declares, He who is attached to

the fruit of action is bound " " Phale saktoh nibadhyate " (Gita

5:12).

 

If a spiritual aspirant has no desire for fruit, then new attachment

does not arise; and old attachment perishes, when actions are

performed for the welfare of others. In this way, he becomes totally

dispassionate. On becoming dispassionate, all actions turn into

inaction.

 

A man has to take birth either to be free of obligations or receive

what is due from previous births. This exchange has been going on

for several births. He cannot get rid of the cycle of birth and

death, so long as, he does not repay his debt or receive what is

owing. The way to close this account is, that he should pay to

others what he owes to them and should not expect them to repay to

him their debts. Thus the account will be closed and he will be

liberated, from the cycle of birth and death (Gita 4:23).

 

If a person does nothing for himself, and has no desire, he get

detached from all actions and objects etc., because all inert things

(including body, senses, mind, intellect. and life breath) are of

the world, not one's own, as these have been acquired from the

world, so that service may be rendered to the world with these.

Therefore when a spiritual aspirant performs all actions (service,

adoration, chant, meditation etc) for the welfare of the world, the

flow of action is towards the world and the spiritual aspirant

remains detached and untainted. This is " seeing inaction in action. "