Unattached Actions

[Plenum]

when I was first exploring buddhism in my early 20's, one of the quandaries that arose in my mind was - why are you doing this?

in the sense of - if one is seeking enlightenment and clearance, and service to all beings, aren't you just doing this to further your own ends, and you are doing it to make yourself feel good? that is, the good actions and 'right thoughts' even though they have benefits for others, isn't it coming from a place of self-attachment, and the locus is the 'self' as the actor. Is it not ultimately self-glorifying to be STO and to be on the pure and righteous path?

these thoughts swirled in my head for some time, and it wasn't until I came across the concept of 'unattached actions' that things were clarified for me. Ironically named mr Confused posted recently on the Tao, and mr Javaman also brought the Tao to my re-attention a couple of months ago, and the concept is best illustrated from that text: (very succinctly)

Chapter 48

Pursue knowledge, daily gain
Pursue Tao, daily loss

Loss and more loss
Until one reaches unattached action
With unattached action, there is nothing one cannot do

Take the world by constantly applying non-interference
The one who interferes is not qualified to take the world

Chapter 2

Therefore the sages:
Manage the work of detached actions
Conduct the teaching of no words
They work with myriad things but do not control

Chapter 43
The softest things of the world
Override the hardest things of the world

That which has no substance
Enters into that which has no openings

From this I know the benefits of unattached actions
The teaching without words

The benefits of actions without attachment
Are rarely matched in the world

what does unattached action mean in practice?

it doesn't mean that you don't care, or that you are unsynpathetic or unempathetic. On the contary, to truly manage unattached action one has to be able to diagnose the situation accurately, and that can only be done so through having an empathetic understanding of the parameters at play. One needs to be able to assess very accurately what the situation is before one is able to act unattached.

the opposite of unattached action would be something like attached action in the prime form of gambling. When one has bought a lottery ticket, or bet on a racehorse, or picked some numbers, then that is the very definition of attached action. One wants (desires) a certain result for self gain. The 'result' of the lottery or the racehorse or the numbers is very much precious and attached to the self because of the self-gain involved.

the opposite would be unattached action, or true service-to-others. Here there is ZERO SELF GAIN as an interest. I choose to help you or interact with you because it is the service requested or most needed by you at this particular moment. I do no want your gratitude, your thanks, your money, your appreciation, your glorification, the success of the task, or any future results, or any cementing in stone, or any remembrance of what I did ... unattached action means that you are serving without looking for any self gain. The self is absent from the picture, except as an actor rendering the service ... and the service is rendered because the other self is seen as an aspect of self ('The One Infinite Creator' being all there is) and so if service is requested, and apt, and helpful, then it is offered. No self gain or self reward, or any bounceback. If that comes, then be it what it may, but it is not an expectation at any level.

- -

contrast this with perhaps a more sts level of service, which definitely wants a certain result - that of controlling the other self. It very much is 'attached action'. (numerous examples of the neggies trying to control Carla by various means, looking for ways to end her life). Attached action through and through.

so like the radiant sun, true sto is radiant and supportive of all planets and all inhabitants, it just gives the light, and you are free to use it however you please. It is just glad to be of service, and a sto being is empowered (much like the sun) and centred in its own power and radiance.

that seems to be the essence of unattached action to me.



peace and love,

plenum

[Bang Kaew]

Qu'o said that it is the far easier path the positive one and that it is for your benefit to make harvest. When Ra was 3d some people were persuaded that it was in their interest to make harvest.

[greywolf]

Speaking for myself I gain some insight from posts here (in non-apparent ways), and that's primarily why I do it. I also believe that's was in part Ra's purpose in communication, to gain some insight for themselves too. I have come to reject what I consider 'gnostic' distortions which seem prevalent here (and in which I include buddhism, taoism, sufism, mystery schools etc.). They are all based on the wrong assumption that when one reaches the creator, one also reaches love. Has there actually ever been anyone so-called enlightened who was a true world-renown philanthopist and humanist, as opposed to the examples of manipulative cult leaders (like Sai Baba or Osho). If one reads carefully the Tao Te King, a distinction is made between service-to-other action and the Tao, and preference is given to the latter. It is energetically the indigo center at the expense of the heart center (which would be stimulated in true sto acitivity).

[Marc]

To me, unattached actions are the things I do because I see it as ethical and not being attached to any outcome of my actions I find peace. "The perfect effort is not concerned with results." -Buddah

[AnthroHeart]

I like to think that I have unattached action much of the time. When I'm helping my mom out, taking her places, appointments for her ferrets and such which I don't care much for. And that's clear on the other side of town. But I do it without complaining.

I've often thought about buying a lottery ticket. I keep imagining what it would be like to win the 300 million mega lottery. But buying a ticket is just throwing my money away. So I don't play it that often. I may again in the future, because I could use that to produce my book as a movie. But I don't think it's in the stars for me to win. I don't get hung up over thinking of winning either. I don't get upset when I lose. I always go quick pick, because I can't ever pick the right numbers myself. And many people have won using the computer to pick numbers.

Nearly posted at 1:11. I always seem to miss that by a minute.