action based on ideals ( 09 jan 07 tue)

Action based on ideals

When my action is based on an ideal which is an idea—such as “I must be brave,” “Imust follow the example,” “I must be charitable,” “I must be socially conscious,”and so on—that idea shapes my action, guides my action. We all say, “There is anexample of virtue which I must follow,” which means, “I must live according tothat.” So action is based on that idea. Between action and idea, there is a gulf, adivision, there is a time process. That is so, is it not? In other words, I am notcharitable, I am not loving, there is no forgiveness in my heart, but I feel I mustbe charitable. So there is a gap between what I am and what I should be; we are allthe time trying to bridge that gap. That is our activity, is it not?Now what would happen if the idea did not exist? At one stroke, you would haveremoved the gap, would you not? You would be what you are. You say, “I am ugly, Imust become beautiful; what am I to do?”—which is action based on idea. You say, “Iam not compassionate, I must become compassionate.” So you introduce idea separatefrom action. Therefore there is never true action of what you are but always actionbased on the ideal of what you will be. The stupid man always says he is going tobecome clever. He sits working, struggling to become; he never stops, he never says,“I am stupid.” So his action, which is based on idea, is not action at all.