The other aspect of akarma : Sannyasa
15. But this is only one form of sannyasa. One aspect of this state of akarma is that, though the man
acts, he does not act. The other aspect is that, though he does not act at all, he moves the whole world
to action. There is in him an immeasurable power to impel to action. This is the paradox of
akarma : it is filled with a power that is capable of infinite action. It is like
steam which when compressed, does enormous work.
Steam that is enclosed gains tremendous power, and moves
huge ships and long trains. It is the same with the sun which does nothing at all but works all the
twenty-four hours in the day. If asked, the sun would say, "I do nothing at all."
One aspect of the sun is that it works day and night and yet does nothing; the other, that
while it does nothing, it performs infinite action day and night. These
are the two splendid sides of sannyasa.
And both are rare. In one aspect, the action is explicit, and the state
of akarma implicit. In the other, though the state of akarma is clearly
manifest, yet, because of it, endless activity is continuously going on. In this state,
akarma is filled to overflowing with action, and thus mighty actions are achieved.
There is a world of difference between the man in this state, and the idler. The lazy man gets easily tired and depressed. But the
sannyasi, who does no work, conserves his power. He does not work at all. That is, he does not
work with his limbs, or with his mind. But even while he does nothing, he does infinite work.
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