Action is born out of ‘nothingness’

The following is an excerpt from a samvaad (dialogue) session with Acharya Prashant.

Question: Dear Sir, There is one question on ‘action’ that has been playing on my mind since you sent me the mail about the desireless action.

You said when there is no self, there is purity in being and hence the desireless action takes place. By this do you mean actions harmonious to the universe, to the Truth?

Acharya Prashant (AP): There is no basis for ‘Action’. If there is a basis, it is an ‘Activity’.

What is a Basis? If it has a base, it has an origination. Also, if it has a base, it gives rise to something and all originations are dependent. There is nothing that originates and is yet independent. All dependent or interdependent originations are suffering.

Action is born out of ‘nothingness’. That is, if you insist it MUST be born out of something.

Baseless action is action. Meaningless action is action. Directionless action is action. Purposeless action is action. Horrible, isn’t it? See how the ego recoils.

Now, do not fall into the trap that these words can be. Do not think that action is utter mindlessness. Or that action takes place in absence of thought. If the Self is all, and all is but the image of the Self, the mind too is the Self—no need to shrink away from it.

Action does involve the mind as well. Action does have a base, action does have a meaning, action has a direction and a purpose as well.

Just figure out.

You are welcome to learn more about Acharya Prashant and his literature. You can also contact the Foundation directly.