karma
If there is one yogic principle that is the most widespread, I think it’s karma. And while it’s more in a sense of the negative in current culture, with the whole “they’ll get what’s coming to them” mindset, it’s important to keep in mind that it’s the positive as well, with all the in between and ultimate goal of non-action.
The universe is just energy and molecules creating and evolving from one form to another, and karma is a great way to encompass that. We are all stardust, afterall. The example the author gives of one type of energy begetting another type is really useful and the way that karma should be represented in society. If we are around positive people, then we usually feel more positive. If we’re around negative people, then we tend to feel more negative.
What I found really interesting is the principle of being unattached to results and memories of our actions is what enlightenment is. This is, of course, difficult to do with how conditioned we are by our past and the actions we have already taken.
The two ideas of inaction and nonaction were, in my mind, similar, but after reading about them, they are two different ways that we aren’t taking action. Inaction seems to be the place where we are hemming and hawing about a decision, while in the meantime the opportunity has passed, whether good or bad. And with the way that the only constant is change, inaction is something that we can’t wallow in.
Nonaction was surprising. It’s the ultimate goal of being able to act without worrying or attaching to the results. And here’s my pop culture reference because I immediately thought of a scene from Friends while I read the description. There’s a scene where Phoebe wants to make a selfless gesture to prove she can actually make a selfless gesture, and since she hates PBS, she was going to donate during a donor drive. In doing so, she ended up getting a goal dollar amount for Joey, who was then brought on screen and congratulated. Of course, Phoebe was happy for Joey, but then wasn’t able to complete her selfless gesture.
This is a difficult principle to grasp, because we make decisions and create action every day. To do so without wanting, needing, or gathering any sort of feedback or affirmation takes a lot of practice and mindfulness of the moment. It’s especially hard because we are a culmination of our past actions. But if we continue to work on being in the moment, then it is the goal.