Clyde G. is a respected thinker and Neo-Buddhist who has been acknowledged for his ability to ask questions going to the heart of issues regarding metaphysical models of reality.
Dan;
I understand your point, but what follows is this:
Each action, however miniscule, has a unique set of eternal consequences.
There are infinite actions one could do at each moment.
Each potential action has a unique set of eternal consequences.
While it appears that some potential actions will lead to more desirable (however defined) consequences and other potential actions will lead to less desirable consequences, one cannot completely know or even imagine the whole set of eternal consequences.
Do these considerations help me choose an action?
I don’t think it will help me. As it is, the burden that my actions have eternal consequences, consequences that I cannot completely know or even imagine, is considerable. But I act. So, I will choose as best I am able in the moment to minimize the suffering I cause.
And to the question, can I do nothing? The answer is no. I can choose to sit and watch or even sit and close my eyes and ears and my mouth, but that is still a doing. Describe “not to be doing” to me?
clyde