On Vivekachudamani: You, as the doer, are unnecessary

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

“The sage has no connection with action since he has no idea of accepting or giving up. Therefore through constant engrossment on Brahman alone, do away with thy superimposition.”

- Vivekachundamani (verse 282)

Questioner (Q): Dearest Acharya Ji, Pranam. How does one go about a stage where one has no connection with one’s action? And what does it mean to apply that to my daily life?

Acharya Prashant (AP): Before we delve into not being connected with one’s actions, first let’s understand what is it that we call ‘remaining connected with one’s actions’. What kind of connections do we have with our actions? You do something and then what is your relation with that action? You want something from that, right? You do something which must protect that which you take as valuable. It must get more of which you think is valuable. It must do away with something. There is always an expectation attached with action. That is one’s connection with action.

You see, as I am speaking my limbs are moving, maybe the legs not so much but certainly the hands. Action is happening, right? What if I have an idea of what right action is like? What would happen to the quality of my movement? And how would that make me feel? How would that affect my consciousness? If I have an idea of what the right gestures are or what the right words are or what is the right way of looking at the audience, if I have that relation with my action, that connection with my action, what would happen to this being? How would I feel?

Q: Obviously we will feel good.

AP: If you have an idea about what the right way of speaking at this very instance is, what is the effect it would have upon you?

Q: We won’t be able to express.

AP: Why won’t you be able to express? What if you knew in advance the right way of making your limbs act? And who will be holding the responsibility to make it perfect? You. How would you feel under that responsibility? Crushed. And what…