“Action in Inaction” And “Inaction in Action” used in Gita

Misconception about the phrases “Action in Inaction” And “Inaction in Action” used in Gita

Inaction in Action – This is a situation experienced by an enlightened person who has understood that “Everything is happening on its own”. In other words the feeling of doer-ship has vanished for him. If he is not the doer question of his involvement in the happening of action does not arise. He is just the witness of whatever is happening outwardly through the body-mind structure. From his angle i.e. from Krishna’s (the absence of ego) point of view although the functional mind and the body is active but he himself is not active i.e. he is in “Inaction”. For other persons he appears to be active but is aware about his inaction from inside.

Action in inaction- This is the situation of an unenlightened person who due to ignorance understands that he is doing i.e. involved in action. He is not aware that it is not possible for him to get involved in any of the action of the body-mind structure. This thinking is from Arjuna’s (the presence of ego) point of view. The Krishna (absence of ego) understands fully well that due to ignorance Arjuna is not able to grasp the reality of his non-doing state i.e. “Inaction”