From a response to a Facebook conversation about the issue of action, inaction, non-action, ego, doer, doership, etc.

I just opened the Bhagavad Gita at random and it opened at chapter 3, "Karma Yoga: The Way of Action". The entire book is relevant to this issue however I will quote extensively from just this chapter because synchronicity is suggesting that it may be particularly relevant.

First some background. Arjuna is a prince of a great kingdom that has disintegrated into two warring factions. Krishna, the avatar of the Supreme Godhead is serving as Arjuna's charioteer. A great war has arisen and Arjuna is called upon to lead an army to fight his kinsmen, his brothers, his teachers and those who he loves and respects.

On the eve of the battle, in the midst of the two armies, Arjuna breaks down. "O Krishna, when I see these people, my kinsmen assembled here, eager for battle, my limbs sag, my mouth feels parched, my body quakes, and my hairs stand on end... I am unable to stand still and my mind is in a whirl. I see adverse omens, and do not forsee any good from killing my own kinsmen in battle... These I would not wish to kill though they may have risen to kill us. Even to obtain the kingdom of the three worlds (outer, inner & inner most); far less for the sake of the earth...."

Krishna's first reply is "O Arjuna, from where does this disgraceful conduct come into your mind in this hour of peril? It is unknown to the Aryas (awakened ones), does not lead to heaven, and brings one disrepute."

Krishna goes on to explain the entire nature of reality, the cosmic process and its projection upon the earthly plane, the fact that none there on the battle field are actually alive to begin with so they cannot be killed, that one must fulfil one's dharma and enact one's innermost law, which is the law of the cosmos. Anything else is futile and ruinous.

From chapter three: "Karma Yoga: The Way of Action"

Arjuna: "O Krishna, if you are of the opinion that wisdom is superior to action, why then do you exhort me to perform this terrible act? With this apparently conflicting advice, it is as if you confuse my understanding. Tell me for certain, therefore, that one thing by which I would attain bliss."

Krishna: "O sinless one, I have said earlier that the way in the world is two-fold: the path of knowledge (gnana yoga) for those who contemplate and that of doing (karma yoga) for those who act.

A man does not attain release from action by not acting, nor does he attain perfection by mere renunciation of action. For, no matter who he is, he cannot remain for even a moment without acting. Prakriti (impulses borne of nature) compels everyone who is dependent to keep performing action.

The deluded one who keeps in check the organs which act while continuing in his mind to brood over the objects of sense is termed a hypocrite.

But the man who controls his senses with his mind and, with detachment, begins his karma yoga using the organs of action, is a very worthy man.

Perform the action prescribed for you, because it is better to act than to be inactive. Without action, even the maintenance of your body will be impossible.

Except for work performed in the spirit of sacrifice, all other holds the world in bondage. Therefore, perform your action in the spirit of sacrifice, free from any form of attachment.

By it, please the gods, and let them please you. Pleasing each other thus, may you attain supreme good.

Know the origin of action (karma) to be in Brahman (supreme non-dual reality), and that Brahman has sprung from the Imperishable. Therefore this Brahman, which is all-pervading, is always the primary focus of sacrifice.

The man who does not help to turn the wheel which has been set in motion in this world is full of sin, and the life of him who is a slave to the senses is worthless.

But the man merged only with the Self (Atman, which is Brahman), content in the Self, pleased with it, has no action that needs to be performed. Similarly, he has nothing to gain here either by doing or not doing; nor does he depend upon any created being for attaining any purpose.

Therefore, always perform what you have to do without attachment, for the man who performs action without attachment attains the highest state.

I (the Supreme Godhead) have no duty left to perform in the three worlds. There is nothing left unattained which I have to attain. Yet, I am engaged in action. If I cease to work, these worlds would grow extinct. I shall be the cause of the world's disarray.

Therefore, as the ignorant perform action being attached to it, the wise should perform action unattached, desiring to maintain the welfare of the world.

The wise man should not unsettle the faith of the ignorant one's attachment to action, but should himself become a doer of deeds in the spirit of yoga, and enjoin others to do so willingly.

Though all actions are done by the constituents of nature (prakriti), the ignorant one, deluded by his egoism, regards himself as the doer.

But he who realises that these constituents and actions are both distinct from himself, and that it is only the constituents interacting together, does not grow attached.

People who are deluded by the constituents of prakriti get attached to the actions they produce. Such imperfect, dull-witted people should not be unsettled by the wise.

Surrendering all actions to Me, with your mind fixed in the Self, freed from desire and the idea of ownership, fight, delivered from your mental fever.

The devout who, without finding fault with My teaching (Sanatana Dharma, eternal law), always act according to it, are also freed from the bondage of karma.

But know that those who fault My teaching and do not follow it, are foolish beyond redemption, thoughtless, and are utterly ruined."

(The Bhagavadgita, translated from Sanskrit by Professor Vrinda Nabar & Professor Shanta Tumkur, Wordsworth Classics, 1977)