16. Supposing someone we have
offended is just silent, and does not speak when we go to him.
Ho great is the effect of his silence, his "renunciation of speech!" Another
man in the same situation splutters out his indignation. Both are angry;
but while one does not open his mouth, the other bursts out. Both are examples of
anger. Being silent too is only a manifestation of anger.
And it serves the purpose. How terrible it is for a child
when its father or mother stops speaking to it! Not speaking, giving up action, is
far more effective than any kind of positive action.
Silence can achieve what speaking cannot. Such is the
state of the jnani. His non-action, his silence, his sitting still, accomplishes much, releases great
power for action. What action cannot achieve, these men, remaining inactive, accomplish.
This is the other side of sannyasa. In such sannyasa, all initiative and all effort come together and rest in one place.
"The movement of action has stopped.
And sunk like a sack on the Lord's wings.
All care is over, and faith has come;
I dwell no more in the womb.
Not in my own being do I live;
The Lord has robbed me of my pride. "
Tuka says, "I live in the being of the One. I am empty and hollow." Tukaram says, "I am now empty,
like a sack. All activity is an end." But in that empty sack there is
hidden a mighty energy. The sun calls aloud to no one; yet, at his sight, birds fly, lambs frolic, the
cows go out to graze in the forest, merchants open their shops, the farmer goes to the field, all the
world gets busy. It is enough that the sun exists. From it, endless actions take their rise. The state of
akarma is filled with the strength to move to infinite action, it is filled to
the brim with infinite power. Such is the other wonderful aspect of sannyasa.
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