'Doing' to 'Being'

With the art of divining the avocation, way of life and manner of living, suited best to oneself, things commence to fall in place, enabling one to “live with the license of a higher order of beings, where new, universal and more liberal laws will begin to establish themselves around and within him” (to use the expression of Henry Thoreau). This also is discovering one’s swadharma — transiting from the state of mere ‘activities’ (‘doing’) to that ‘action’ (‘being’).

Dr Nirmal Chordia, the holistic healer of Chennai, illustrates the issue through the parable of a sage, who came to live in a certain place. Soon all the folk came to revere him, seeking his guidance. The local chief observed that he himself did not command this following.

Taking up a dwelling near that of the sage, the chief observed that outwardly there were not many differences between the lifestyle or activities of the sage and those of himself. But on interacting with the newcomer, he came to comprehend that while he was engrossed in many thoughts, fantasies and wishes, the sage had, through obtaining inner clarity, obtained freedom from such dissipation and distractions.

He naturally radiated the inner clarity and peace not only in all that he did but also to all who came to him. Having something to give, he naturally attracted around him persons, as a flower attracts bees. This artful ‘doing’, as the chief discovered and in the manner elaborated by Dr Chordia, is becoming and ‘being’ something fulfilled — the art of transiting from dissipated ‘doing’ to stable ‘being’.