Day 4 – When in doubt, take action.

Chapter 4 – Wisdom in Action
Yoga Teacher – Heidi Rayden

Krishna – “Arjuna, cut through this doubt in your own heart with the sword of spiritual wisdom. Arise; take up the path of yoga!”

Even at the precipice of what may feel like the most hopeless bondage of mortal worry and doubt, Krishna reminds Arjuna that the wise take action always. In my own personal experience the only liberation that I’ve ever experienced has come from just putting one foot in front of the other – from just “showing up” to the dance. As Ram Dass says it’s “the only dance there is.”

There have a been a few issues that have come up for me in recent weeks that classify these times as being difficult. There are so many forms of pain that range from the inevitable (people dying, sickness, etc) to flavors that are a little more participatory like heartbreak, friendships, financial and all that. It’s all part of the journey. At the same time, it’s important for me to realize that my problems are no greater or no less than what anyone else is experiencing. We all have our stuff and all are all experiencing it through different channels.

Chapter 3 starts off with lofty mystical nuances that Krishan is merely hinting to Arjuna, much of which will appear in later chapters of The Gita. Things like reincarnation, remembering karma’s from previous births and Krishna’s all around transcendent nature all take mature form later but are teased upon here. After that is done, Krishna realizes that Arjuna is still stuck in his “stuff.” He’s still dwelling upon his current predicament of having to wage war against his own family. Because that is such a major life problem for Arjuna he can’t get passed that just yet.

Therefore, Krishna must guide Arjuna back to the material world ropes of action and inaction.

He says “What is action and what is inaction? This question has confused the greatest of sages. I will give you the secret of action, with which you can free yourself from bondage…”

“The wise see that there is action in the midst of inaction and inaction in the midst of action. Their consciousness is unified, and every act is done with complete awareness.”

“The awakened sages call a person wise when all his undertakings are free from anxiety about results…”

Krishna Das, in his kirtans, talks a lot about just returning to the practice or the chanting of the names. To just sing and go back to that. When the mind wanders, go back to that. When you’re not sure what to focus on, just go back to that. It sounds simple but it’s really not, there are many subtle layers of complexities in it. Like with every meditation, the mind will wander and start to play tricks.

In todays Yoga practice the thought of “why why why” kept going through my head. Why am I doing this? Am I trying to prove something to myself? Am I just trying to get in better shape? All of these are true. But none of them are important. The only thing that I’m committed to is using this experience as a method to return to my practice no matter what the circumstances are. When in doubt, take action. This has never failed me. The stuff that I’m going through today – attachment, expectations, longing, worry, doubt, fear – will without question cease to exist in a little while. They are stories that my mind is telling itself as a way to distract me from shining brighter.