Am I not the doer, am I not that’s done
Am I just a viewer, as all the rest is done
If all phenomena have causes
And nothing else has none
Who makes all the choices?
Since it’s already been done
As the self is tied by causes
Its freedom is none
As causal chains and forces
Act, the agency is none
Since the self is a bundle of causes
Its essence is none
Since existence is conventional
The All is just one
So, I am not the doer, I am not that’s done
I am just a viewer, as all the rest is done
This Poem is a based on the philosophy of emptiness as described by Nagarjuna in Mulamadhyamakarika. It states that there is no single agent that can produce action. In other words; each act is a consequence of multiple interdependent variables in the causal chain, and an independent agent( in this case the human ego ) cannot take credit for producing the action. It is also based on the concept of 'intentional stance' as proposed by the philosopher Daniel Dennett. He states that attribution of agency and intention are a very effective in predicting the behavior of self and other organisms and hence has an evolutionary advantage. This explains the illusion of agency that we have and the illusion of intentions we attribute to others. From the perspective of Philosophy of mind , the stance mentioned in the poem could be explained as a modified eliminative materialism. From the spiritual perspective it states that our feeling of being in control is an illusion . Also attributing agency to others actions is delusional and produces anger and hatred. On has to understand the principle of " not doing" to get over illusion of control and agency. Only when one can get over agency can he get over anger and hatred and understand true love.
ReplyDeleteThanks to my friend Natasha who shared the words of the Amazing poet KABIR . The following lines are Kabir's verses as they capture a similar theme as attempted by this poem
ReplyDeleteEk kahoon to hai nahi
Do kahoon to gaari
Hai jaisa taisa rahe
Kahe Kabir bichari
Translation
If I say one, It is not
If I say two, it will be a violation
Let 'It' be what 'It' is
says Kabir upon contemplation
Kabira kiya kuch na hoth hai ankiya sab hoye
Jo kiya kuch hoth hai karta aur koy
Translation
Says Kabir
By my doing nothing happens
What I don't does come to pass
If anything happens as if my doing
Then truly it is done by someone else