Action in Inaction and Inaction in Action as per Bhagavad Gita
Under the laws of karma, every action carries a reaction.
Only by having zero personal attachments and desires can one avoid reactions
Theoretically, if we don’t perform any action there won’t be any reaction which is what we want right? But it’s not possible to live in this world and not perform any activity. People may sit silently in meditation trying to control and empty the mind, but this is still activity. They must eat something, breath, move around a little, so even though they may appear to be inactive, there are still reactions being chalked up, so they are not ‘inactive’ because reactions are accumulating. So actually they are performing actions even though aiming for inaction.
This is the meaning of seeing action in inaction.
Another person may be active, but their consciousness is completely devoid of any personal desires or interest in their activity so there will be no reaction. It’s as if they were inactive.
This is the meaning of seeing inaction in action.
The next verses continue:
That’s the goal, no fruitive action, and so that we are not left trying to figure out how to be so detached and unmoved by everything in our life that we are virtually inactive, Krishna goes on to explain different technical and esoteric practices based on renunciation, austerities, vows and sacrifices which lead to knowledge. This knowledge is going to be the key to success.
I don’t know of anyone successfully practicing what Krishna outlines, today, but fortunately, Krishna also recommends approaching a qualified spiritual master in order to gain this transcendental knowledge. (4.34) That’s a lot simpler than “offering the functions of all the senses, and of the life breath, as oblations into the fire of the controlled mind.” Or “by offering the movement of the outgoing breath into the incoming, and the incoming breath into the outgoing, and thus at last remaining in trance, stopping all breathing. Others, curtailing the eating process, offer the outgoing breath into itself as a sacrifice.”
I am really glad there is the option to approach someone for transcendental knowledge.
Krishna then spends four verses glorifying transcendental knowledge and explaining how it destroys reactions is, unparalleled, the mature fruit of mysticism, sublime and guarantees success. So what is that transcendental knowledge that Krishna has mentioned?
He says that all living beings are part of Him and His. (Bhagavad Gita 4.35)
At this point, spiritual life sometimes seems like a fork in the road. People wonder if being a part of the Supreme means we are the Supreme or if we are subordinate to the Supreme.
If we think we are the Supreme and go down that path, then we have to go back to “trying to figure out how to be so detached and unmoved by everything in our life that we are virtually inactive.” So first off the computer has to go (gasp) then we have to leave home and head for a suitable place like an ashram or the forests or Himalayas. We eat if someone gives us food, and fast if no one does. Our desire is to become desireless, we look upon pebbles and gold as the same. Even the desire, must be a thing of the past, we live with one goal, to be freed of all desires, all attachments, all false ego and come to the level Krishna mentions:
Thus we will never be entangled, our action will be inaction.
Of course, this is out of the question for 99.99% of the most ambitious.
So those still wanting to be freed of reactions take the other path and understand that Krishna is saying we are subordinate to Him.
Krishna being the Supreme authority can sanction certain actions so that they will not carry a material reaction. It’s material reactions that bind us to this world, so those of us who want out, want to avoid reactions. Activities done for the pleasure of the Lord under proper direction don’t carry reactions. Arjuna was asked by Krishna to kill millions of people, so there was no reaction.
We don’t need to do that, but if we arrange a vase of flowers for Krishna, there’s no reaction or if we go to the market, buy supplies, cook and offer the preparations to Krishna, there’s no reaction. When we take the prasad there’s no material reaction. Whatever in the day we do for the pleasure of Krishna, (even if we also get great pleasure from it) carries no reaction. We can have a job, earn money, have a wife or husband and children, but if, at the forefront in our mind, is the goal of pleasing Krishna there will be no reaction. It requires some intelligence like traveling expenses when traveling for the company we may work for. There will always be an accountant who checks the bills so they should be reasonable. Krishna is no fool and trying to slip our own personal desires in with His work will be spotted and carry a reaction, but He is neither unreasonable nor ungrateful, so develop transcendental knowledge, use common sense, and act for Krishna’s pleasure.
It is all inaction in action.
Related post:
What is Meaning of Life according to Bhagwad Gita?
What does it means to surrender to God according to Bhagavad Gita?
The Significance of Chapter 1 in the Bhagwad Gita
What does Lord Krishna says about death in Bhagwad Gita?
Karma, Vikarma, Karma Yoga, Akarma in the Bhagavad Gita
Only by having zero personal attachments and desires can one avoid reactions
Theoretically, if we don’t perform any action there won’t be any reaction which is what we want right? But it’s not possible to live in this world and not perform any activity. People may sit silently in meditation trying to control and empty the mind, but this is still activity. They must eat something, breath, move around a little, so even though they may appear to be inactive, there are still reactions being chalked up, so they are not ‘inactive’ because reactions are accumulating. So actually they are performing actions even though aiming for inaction.
This is the meaning of seeing action in inaction.
Another person may be active, but their consciousness is completely devoid of any personal desires or interest in their activity so there will be no reaction. It’s as if they were inactive.
This is the meaning of seeing inaction in action.
The next verses continue:
One is understood to be in full knowledge whose every endeavor is devoid of desire for sense gratification. He is said by sages to be a worker for whom the reactions of work have been burned up by the fire of perfect knowledge. Bg 4.19
Abandoning all attachment to the results of his activities, ever satisfied and independent, he performs no fruitive action, although engaged in all kinds of undertakings. Bg 4.20
That’s the goal, no fruitive action, and so that we are not left trying to figure out how to be so detached and unmoved by everything in our life that we are virtually inactive, Krishna goes on to explain different technical and esoteric practices based on renunciation, austerities, vows and sacrifices which lead to knowledge. This knowledge is going to be the key to success.
I don’t know of anyone successfully practicing what Krishna outlines, today, but fortunately, Krishna also recommends approaching a qualified spiritual master in order to gain this transcendental knowledge. (4.34) That’s a lot simpler than “offering the functions of all the senses, and of the life breath, as oblations into the fire of the controlled mind.” Or “by offering the movement of the outgoing breath into the incoming, and the incoming breath into the outgoing, and thus at last remaining in trance, stopping all breathing. Others, curtailing the eating process, offer the outgoing breath into itself as a sacrifice.”
I am really glad there is the option to approach someone for transcendental knowledge.
Krishna then spends four verses glorifying transcendental knowledge and explaining how it destroys reactions is, unparalleled, the mature fruit of mysticism, sublime and guarantees success. So what is that transcendental knowledge that Krishna has mentioned?
He says that all living beings are part of Him and His. (Bhagavad Gita 4.35)
At this point, spiritual life sometimes seems like a fork in the road. People wonder if being a part of the Supreme means we are the Supreme or if we are subordinate to the Supreme.
If we think we are the Supreme and go down that path, then we have to go back to “trying to figure out how to be so detached and unmoved by everything in our life that we are virtually inactive.” So first off the computer has to go (gasp) then we have to leave home and head for a suitable place like an ashram or the forests or Himalayas. We eat if someone gives us food, and fast if no one does. Our desire is to become desireless, we look upon pebbles and gold as the same. Even the desire, must be a thing of the past, we live with one goal, to be freed of all desires, all attachments, all false ego and come to the level Krishna mentions:
Such a man of understanding acts with mind and intelligence perfectly controlled, gives up all sense of proprietorship over his possessions, and acts only for the bare necessities of life. Thus working, he is not affected by sinful reactions. Bg 4.21
He who is satisfied with gain which comes of its own accord, who is free from duality and does not envy, who is steady in both success and failure, is never entangled, although performing actions. Bg 4.22
Thus we will never be entangled, our action will be inaction.
Of course, this is out of the question for 99.99% of the most ambitious.
So those still wanting to be freed of reactions take the other path and understand that Krishna is saying we are subordinate to Him.
Krishna being the Supreme authority can sanction certain actions so that they will not carry a material reaction. It’s material reactions that bind us to this world, so those of us who want out, want to avoid reactions. Activities done for the pleasure of the Lord under proper direction don’t carry reactions. Arjuna was asked by Krishna to kill millions of people, so there was no reaction.
We don’t need to do that, but if we arrange a vase of flowers for Krishna, there’s no reaction or if we go to the market, buy supplies, cook and offer the preparations to Krishna, there’s no reaction. When we take the prasad there’s no material reaction. Whatever in the day we do for the pleasure of Krishna, (even if we also get great pleasure from it) carries no reaction. We can have a job, earn money, have a wife or husband and children, but if, at the forefront in our mind, is the goal of pleasing Krishna there will be no reaction. It requires some intelligence like traveling expenses when traveling for the company we may work for. There will always be an accountant who checks the bills so they should be reasonable. Krishna is no fool and trying to slip our own personal desires in with His work will be spotted and carry a reaction, but He is neither unreasonable nor ungrateful, so develop transcendental knowledge, use common sense, and act for Krishna’s pleasure.
It is all inaction in action.
One who acts in devotional service, renouncing the fruits of his actions, and whose doubts have been destroyed by transcendental knowledge, is situated factually in the self. Thus he is not bound by the reactions of work, O conqueror of riches. Bg 4.41
Related post:
What is Meaning of Life according to Bhagwad Gita?
What does it means to surrender to God according to Bhagavad Gita?
The Significance of Chapter 1 in the Bhagwad Gita
What does Lord Krishna says about death in Bhagwad Gita?
Karma, Vikarma, Karma Yoga, Akarma in the Bhagavad Gita
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