The second topic dealing with the intellectual appeal for action begins. One cannot get to the state of Perfection by either giving up present actions or not initiating new ones. Perfection is described as the state of actionlessness which tends to mislead the ignorant. Action is driven by desire. Desire comes from thought which is triggered by vasana. The action of playing tennis comes from a desire for tennis. The desire springs from the thought for tennis which can only emerge when one has a vasana for tennis. Perfection is thus the state of vasanalessness which means thoughtlessness, desirelessness and actionlessness. But you cannot become actionless without getting rid of desire, thought and vasana.
The pathway to reducing desire is the Path of Action. Just as you need a thorn to remove another thorn embedded in your foot, you need to deploy action to free yourself of action. Remove action from its very root. Symptomatic relief does not cure a disease.
Well meaning, sincere spiritual seekers stop acting in the belief that they can reach Realisation through contemplation and meditation. Though meditation is the ultimate gateway to Realisation it requires a lifetime of preparation and practice to qualify for it. The practice is Karma Yoga which offloads your personality of desires and prepares you to take off into the sublime realms of meditation. Karma Yoga is working in the area of one’s talent for a higher ideal.