Thursday, September 9, 2010
Inaction as Action
Today in class we discussed the transmission of "inaction" in regards to following one's dharma. We can trace the nonviolent movements of Martin Luther King, Ghandi, and even Thoreau all the way back to the Bhagavad Gita. How is this inaction considered an action? How do these nonviolent movements relate to Karma, Dharma, or Brahma?
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6 comments:
Humans must make choices. You can not choose not to act, because that choice itself is an action (even though it might be considered to be a "inaction"). If someone decides not to physically act, karma can still follow them. For example, if Rama had chosen not to go out into the woods and instead insist on keeping his title as king, his choice would have had consequences. Since he would not have been fulfilling his "dharma", his action would have repercussions.
Julia arises an interesting point when she discusses that all human choices are actions, even if the choice itself is inaction. Sometimes, like in the Ramayana, a violent action is even more important than innaction. Krishna teaches Rama the imporance of this when dealing with Rama's innaction in the war. Krishna explains to Rama that when following ones dharma, even a violent action can improve one's being.
Julia arises an interesting point when she discusses that all human choices are actions, even if the choice itself is inaction. Sometimes, like in the Ramayana, a violent action is even more important than innaction. Krishna teaches Rama the imporance of this when dealing with Rama's innaction in the war. Krishna explains to Rama that when following ones dharma, even a violent action can improve one's being.
If it is one's responsibility to complete one's duties in accordance with dharma, it makes no sense for a warrior to choose inaction. As Julia said, inaction would be Arjuna's choice, one which he would be entirely responsible for. As a result, he could incur bad karma. However, I think that it is interesting that Krishna talks about the lack of responsibility for one's actions due to the universal Brahma when at the same time karma is the result of individual actions.
I agree with you all, choosing inaction is an actual choice that is made, but it can not stop you from following your dharma. Action must be chosen to complete dharma, or else you loose your purpose in life. By following your dharma, you create good karma. The good karma you create will then take you on to the next step in life.
Actually, good karma will not only take you on to the next step in life, Katherine, but it will actually take you to the next life. Even the poor hunchback, whose low caste is physically portrayed through her deformity, fulfills her "dharma" by suggesting the use of the two wishes. This, of course, will add to her karma positively and may even give her the opportunity to become "twice-born" and move up to a higher caste on her path to moksha.
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