Sri Sankara writes: "He who sees inaction in action,
i.e., he who has the right knowledge that action, which is commonly supposed by
all to pertain to the Self, does not really belong to the Self, just as motion
does not really pertain to the trees (on the shore of the river) which appear
(to a man on board the ship) to move in the opposite direction, and who sees
action in inaction, i.e., he who knows that even inaction is action, for,
inaction is but a cessation of bodily and mental activities, and like action it
is falsely attributed to the Self and causes the feeling of egoism as expressed
in the words "quiet and doing nothing, I sit happy" - he who can
realize the nature of action and inaction as now explained is wise among men:
"He is a devout Yogin, he is the performer of actions, he is released from
evil and has achieved all."
- Swami Sivananda
