On Doing Nothing

Chapter VIII in the book, The Valley of the Flowers, written by F.S. Smythe is called "On Doing Nothing".  The book is the story of how the author spent four months climbing in the Himalayas.

At first, especially in our western culture "doing nothing" is not something one can do...
We must be highly effective and busy to be seen as contributing to society.

Smythe writes that, " Amid a welter of conflicting philosophies, I have always clung to on idea - that to get a kick out of life, a man must sample the contrasts of life."

"The positives ceases to exist when there is no negative.  Activity can only be measured against inactivity; therefore to appreciate the joys of activity it is necessary to practice passivity."

So from that an "off-day", but not an off-day as he writes to be "indulged in grudgingly; it is a necessary and integral part of mountaineering, the essential complement to the "on day"".

Mr. Smythe nicely puts it that when we neglect inactivity, we neglect the benefits of contemplation and we cannot appreciate nature otherwise.

This book was first printed in 1938, and written about his mountaineering experience from 1931. 
So, it is interesting that he writes even at that time, "The West assumes its superiority over the East primarily because it is further advanced in mechanical matter, but woe betide it should it continue to associate mechanisms with spiritual progress.

In Garhwal I met a true civilisation, for I found contentment and happiness. I saw a life that is not enslaved by the time-factor, that is not obsessed by the idea that happiness is dependent on money and materials.  I had never before realised until I camped in the Valley of Flowers how much happiness there is in simple living and simple things."

So, give yourself an "off-day" every once in awhile after you have climbed whatever mountain you are working on. Find immeasurable comfort in spending time in nature if you can. Enjoy the moments to contemplate, relax and breathe.

Namaste.
Pamela Nelson
www.plnyoga.BlogSpot.com
plnyogastudio@gmail.com