“He who sees inaction in action, and action in inaction, he is intelligent among men, and he is in the transcendental position, although engaged in all sorts of activities.”

Context of the Verse:

            This line is from Lord Krishna’s speech in the Gyana Karma Sanyasa Yoga (Chapter 4: Transcendental Knowledge). The chapter also focuses on the union of knowledge (Gyana) and action (Karma), thereby introducing subtle philosophical concepts of the way realized beings act in the world.

            Krishna elucidates on the contradictory nature of action and inaction to Arjuna and reveals the importance of performing one’s duty with detachment and clarity of mind. This is a very significant philosophical turning point in the Gita wherein Krishna distinguishes between mindless and enlightened action.

Key Teachings in This Verse:

• True Wisdom Is Farsighted:

1. One who understands sees in non- action in action It is non-attachment to the activity they are involved in.
2. They also perceive activity in non-activity — so even something that might even appear non-doing (like renunciation) can still be tinged with some subtle form of ego or desire.

• Karma-Yoga (The way of Selfless Service):

1. Non Attachment brings inner quietness – a principal teaching in Karma Yoga.

• The Intersect the Integration of Action and Knowledge:

1. Real spiritual maturity is knowing that outward activities can live with inner serenity.

• Definition of a Yogi:

1. Whoever remains centered with wisdom in action, is said to be a sage.

Relevance to Arjuna:

• Arjuna is unclear about his duty (Dharma) as a warrior and is morally troubled by the fighting (killing) in the war.
• Krishna helps Arjuna understand that ascent from action is to be achieved not by avoiding action but by acting without attachment and with wisdom.
• This is the verse in which he is encouraged to fight as the warrior, dispassionately, as part of cosmic righteousness, so that he can potentially act without reprisal, with an enlightened perspective based in inner peace while still acting in the world.

Explanation:

            Thus, sadly, people are not aware of this. She says, “Krishna, it’s very difficult to comprehend. What is Karma? What is Akarma? People do not know that. If someone speeds, you’re going to pay for it. But it is his responsibility to know what the speed limit is on this road. So, it is the same again and again: there are all these laws because we are ignorant and we don’t know, then we break the laws and then we suffer. If we cut the laws of nature, that’s the root of all of us being in trouble.

            Now, so Krishna says we should know what Karma is, what is Vikarma. And above all to know what is Akarma – Akarma means I am not doing.

            Krishna says, “One who sees inaction in action, and action in inaction, is intelligent among men, and he is in the transcendental position, although engaged in all sorts of activities.

            So, then Krishna gives us the definition of who’s a free person. One who can witness inaction in action. Therefore, the materialists may be doing so many things, but there is a wise man, a transcendentalist – he knows it is not action. To do nothing is clearly not going to have any outcome. Anyone who does an awful lot of work making a sandcastle – that’s wasting time. What is Karma? Because that castle is not going to stand; one strong wave will come and it will be washed away. That’s all wasted effort and time.

            In the same way that everyone is working very hard, struggling with stress, tension, anxiety, and as soon as they leave the body – name and fame, education, and family members – everyone is gone. Then all those things, so much hard work for helping family members, for making them happy and satisfied – it is a useless waste of time if we don’t escort them to spiritual freedom. If we don’t escort them to spiritual freedom. That’s because they will suffer once more. They are going to die in the next life and will be suffering. You put in so much work caring for your people, you and your loved ones. You and your loved ones. Madam, we also suffer, when you will come again in this material world, our families will also suffer. This is what we are ….” “Name, fame, education (Everything is over).″ “This is who we are. So that is why it is named inaction. A psychic does not see the work in the unfavourable work carried out for temporary sense gratification. Is it not due to our ignorance of this aspect of ourselves that it is a waste of time? We are active in this inaction.

            So Krishna says we have to see inaction in action. People are very active, you see, like monkeys  who jump from one tree to another, or dogs who go from one dustbin to another – no worthy activity. Why? And a devotee, a spiritualist, also may be doing activity. And his going about, it is not to be observed as any going about. They are inaction as well. Why? Because they have no material reactions. So it’s good for nothing, practically useless. As the fan only performs actions as per the direction of the one whom he worships. His movements on the spiritual platform are carried out in spiritual energy. At the same time, the devotee may also be performing a business, making money. As is Arjuna, who is behaving as a warrior of Rajo Guna, like this, fighting to possess a kingdom. But Arjuna is not led by lower energy. But by the immediate junction of Lord Krishna’s spiritual energy. Why? So therefore, while Arjuna is performing activity. So therefore, while Arjuna is performing activity, killing and fighting wars, he may kill in the modes of passion, but there is no reaction to those actions in the mode of passion. So this is what is called seeing inaction in action.

            Therefore, at the same time, a wise man also sees action in inaction. Sometimes a materialist does not act, just like Arjuna did not want to act, did not want to fight. However, there is action in this inaction. Action in inaction and seeing inaction in action. By not doing your activity, you are breaching the laws of nature and creating material punishment for yourself. Because you are creating a material action, it results in punishment and suffering, which is also considered activity because it produces material punishment. Sometimes, a devotee can also be inactive. A devotee can simply chant the entire day. A devotee can simply chant the entire day, worship the deity, or meditate upon the form of Krishna. Because he is making his spiritual life. Because he is not doing anything apparently, he is absorbed in Samadhi, in Krishna’s service. Therefore, even the devotee is not acting. You should see that this is real action. Because he is making his spiritual life. Sit down in front of the deity in the temple or within your heart. Simply look at the form of Krishna. When a person reads the Bhagavad Gita and thinks about Krishna’s activities, he is simply chanting and hearing His names. Some devotees do this for 24 hours a day, and one can tell that he is inactive. Sitting all day, doing nothing. No, he is doing real action because he is making his life spiritual. This is a vision. Action in inaction and seeing inaction in action. One who sees in this way is a wise man. We should learn how to see.