Spark 22
RIGHT ACTION IS THE ANSWER
“Give your life of action,” is the widespread notion about spirituality, “and withdraw into a life of meditation or singing bhajans!”
“Remaining engaged in action, you must desire to spend the hundred years of your life,” is the advice of Ishāvāsya Upanishad1 – in contrast to the belief that you come across everywhere.
It is generally a wrong question when we ask, “Should I act or withdraw?” The right question is, “What is the right action here?”
Implied in the emphasis in the Upanishad mantra on living our whole life in the field of action is the nature of the action that we choose to perform. It has to be ‘duty rather than pleasure,’ and ‘service above the self’.
Geeta, which is pretty much a restatement of Upanishadic wisdom, introduces the concept of SVADHARMA in this context only. Except for a miniscule part of humanity, who have perhaps brought forth from their previous lives a huge amount of non-attachment and ability to contemplate on higher truths, humanity has to be active. “Act rightly or perish,” can be the slogan for the overwhelming majority of us.
Therefore neither (the usual) selfish action nor (the misconceived spirituality in the form of) inaction is the answer to our dilemmas. The third option – selfless action – can take us to heights of inner growth.
Ask these questions before choosing to act:
Do I feel I belong to this field of action?
Do I experience happiness when my work makes others happy?
Do I have adequate skills in this field?
Does my conscience approve my being active here?
Does ‘less reward’ not pinch me much when it comes to this line (or field) of action?
If the answer is YES to the above five questions, you have identified your SVADHARMA rightly.
Otherwise do some soul search; you will definitely discover, without much delay, where you belong. Finding thus ‘right action’ takes you out of the otherwise endless conflict of “Should I or should I not?”.
Swami Chidananda
Himachal Pradesh
Tuesday, June 28, 2016
Notes:
1 | kurvan eva hi karmāni, jijeevishet shatam samāh | mantra 2