As children, we are often chided by our parents for being lazy. Laziness has often been considered to be the gateway to more serious behavioural issues. While everyone can agree to the dangers of being lazy, sometimes laziness manifests itself as a fake sense of calm and contentment. Such disguised laziness is not always overtly visible and becomes more difficult to notice and correct.
The philosophical aspect: Satva and Tamas
The difference between laziness and calmness can often seem blurred. Philosophically, this is explained by the subtle differences between sattva and tamas. A truly sattvic mindset embodies true calm and contentment from their work. It does not pretend to be calm to hide inaction or laziness.
Satva is not inaction or laziness:
But neither Satva nor spirituality means withdrawal from action. They ask us to act without attachment to the results of our action or that all our actions stem from a desire to serve others. Satva, therefore, is measured, consistent, moral action and this is the basis of real calmness.
Inaction or laziness is more reflective of the inertia of Tamas. It is when you withdraw from participating in the world because you are not confident of your abilities to achieve your life-goals.
=A tamasic calmness is a mask to hide this inertia that comes from laziness or under-confidence.
=When we hide our laziness under the guise of tamasic calmness, we falsely convince ourselves that we are satisfied with our current circumstances. In reality, we are merely avoiding the challenges and responsibilities of life.
Differences in their essence and consequences:
=Satva embodies balanced action, where you perform your duty with dedication but remain unattached to the outcomes.
=In contrast, Tamas signifies inertia and laziness, leading to inaction and stagnation in a comfort-zone.
=Similarly, laziness is characterized by a lack of motivation and energy, often accompanied by a sense of apathy towards one’s responsibilities.
=On the other hand, calmness involves a conscious decision to let go of attachment to desires and outcomes not responsibilities.
=Some of us who are on an apparent spiritual path, profess a false calmness from worldly affairs. This calmness stems not from a genuine spiritual understanding but from a sense of incapability, resignation or laziness.
A real-life illustration:
A student preparing for an exam who simply wants to pass the examination will study minimally and on the day of the exam will seem calm and composed. He won’t be as worried as some of his other friends who want to score more. Is this calm really a sign of calmness or is it a sign of laziness? And the students who are worried are they less spiritual because they have put in hard work and effort to achieve their goals?
Take-Aways:
=A lack of ambition and initiative is not a sign of genuine inner peace or calmness.
=Ask yourself if your contentment is coming from the peace of putting in a good day’s work or is it coming from staying in your comfort zone.
=Fake calmness often comes from a fear of failure or a lack of confidence in your abilities.
=Real calmness involves setting high standards and striving for excellence without being consumed by the outcome.
Sometimes we are unaware of whether we are truly content and detached or simply lazy. Such is the debilitating nature of laziness that it creeps into our lives hidden and unseen and then begins to affect all aspects of our life. Don’t let it destroy you; pay heed and address it with the power of self-belief and hard-work.
Dr Hansaji Yogendra is the director of The Yoga Institute. She is also the president of the Indian Yoga Association and the International Board of Yoga.