action行动

In The Early Sessions Book 1, Seth develops a multidimensional and in-depth treatment of the concept of "action," linking it closely with materialization, time, emotion, and psychological dynamics. The following are the core expressions and distinctive aspects of the concept of "action" in this book:

I. Action and the nature of materialization

Seth points out that on the human level, "action" is the most important word ^[1]. He explicitly states that from now on he will call any "materialization" an "action," because nothing is static ^[1]. Mental enzymes not only initiate action in the physical world, but they themselves become action ^[1].

II. Feeling, emotion, and art as "frozen action"

Seth emphasizes that "feeling is action," and that feeling operates in many worlds ^[2][3]. For example, love and hate are both actions; they imply not only physical action, but also action in thought ^[1]. Artistic creation is a concrete embodiment of this process. A painting is "frozen feeling" or "action caught in a fixed form" ^[4][5]. In the process of painting, the creator freezes emotion or feeling, and every line is a thought or a recorded, frozen segment of action ^[4][6]. However, even in a painting, action is never truly static; it remains continuously flowing. When an observer appreciates the painting, feeling is again released from the painting as motion and enters the observer's perception ^[5]. In addition, psychic actions guide the individual beyond the senses ^[7].

III. The relationship among action, time, and "counteraction"

On the human level, no actions are truly simultaneous, so time immediately enters in ^[8]. Seth gives a subtle definition: if there were no necessity to counteract other actions, time would be meaningless ^[9]. This "action and counteraction" occurring within the core of vitality is precisely the mechanism that triggers time ^[10]. On some other levels, motion is simultaneous and time is unknown ^[10].

IV. Action and the illusion of causality

Seth breaks down the traditional concept of cause and effect. He points out that in the basic reality where there is no past and future, causality is meaningless. Therefore, an action taken in what humanity calls the "present" can neither be based on or caused by a "past" action, nor can it become the cause of a "future" action ^[11].

V. Action, violence, and energy release

In the early discussions, Seth mentions that solving problems through action on the human level is bound to lead to violence, even declaring that "after all, any action is violence" ^[12][13]. But under specific circumstances, violent action, such as dancing, is instead the best way to release destructive, aggressive psychic energy ^[14].

VI. Action and inaction on the psychological level

The individual's psychological state directly affects the ability to act in the physical world. For example, lack of confidence or false self-protective mechanisms can lead to physical rigidity and an inability to take effective action in the physical world ^[15]; intense psychological experiences can sometimes cause the personality to become almost detached from action ^[16]; impulses may also be frozen by fear into a state of "inactivity" ^[17]. Conversely, some people's primary impulse is to act ^[18], and if this strong aggressive force is not properly channeled into creative work, it may be discharged through physical actions such as moving furniture ^[19].

In The Early Sessions Book 2 (1964), Seth develops a profound treatment of the concept of "action," linking it closely with psychic events, the nature of matter, and humanity's mechanisms of perception and creation. The following are the core expressions and distinctive aspects of the concept of "action" in this phase:

I. The nature and multidimensional characteristics of psychic action

Seth points out that psychic action refers to any psychic event, such as a dream or a thought, which may not exist in physical space-time ^[1]. Psychic action has the following core characteristics:

1. Non-static and enduring: No psychic action is invalid, static, or barren ^{[1] [2]}. Every psychic action truly exists and has effects, and is enduring in terms of value fulfillment ^[1].
2. Inner potential: Within every psychic action there is the potential for value fulfillment, transference, and even energy transformation ^{[1] [2]}.
3. Occurring in the dimension of "quality-depth": Psychic action occurs in a perspective dimension called "quality-depth" ^[3]. This motion is not up and down or east-west-north-south in physical space, but motion through the dimension of quality or value. It is the only true perspective plane in which all psychic action occurs and in which all thought and universal expansion take place ^[3].

II. Matter as continuous action

Seth breaks down the traditional boundary between matter and action, pointing out that matter is in essence action:

1. The continuity of action: Physical objects are actually action; they have no specific beginning or end, and their action is continuous ^[4]. It is humanity that arbitrarily identifies a certain portion of action as a specific physical object, changes its apparent form, and names it ^[4].
2. The senses' definition of action: The human outer senses cannot perceive action that does not belong to their domain ^[4]. When the outer senses perceive action, if it appears static, humanity calls it "matter"; if it appears capable of motion, humanity calls it "living"; if motion is no longer perceived, humanity calls it "dead" ^[4]. But in fact, in all cases, action continues ^[4].
3. The definition of matter: Matter is "action that is utilized by the inner senses and perceived by the outer senses" ^[5]. Humanity does not create action out of nothing, but rather utilizes action and constructs it into forms that the outer senses can perceive ^[5].
4. Self-directedness: All action is to some degree self-directed action. Therefore, all matter, including so-called inert matter, should in essence be regarded as "living matter" ^[6].

III. The triggering mechanism of action and materialization

The occurrence, perception, and transformation of action into physical reality depend on specific inner mechanisms:

1. Outer construction as the translation of action: Outer physical construction is essentially the process of translating or converting action from "inner reality" into the "material field" ^{[7] [8]}.
2. "Suggestion" as the trigger of action: Without so-called "suggestion," no physical object can be constructed and no action can occur ^[9]. Seth defines "suggestion" as an "inner willingness and consent" that allows specific action to occur. This inner consent is the switch that triggers subconscious mechanisms and constructs inner data into physical reality ^[9].

IV. The application of emotional energy and physical activity

On the practical level, action is closely related to the guidance of human emotional energy:

1. Autonomous choice of action patterns: Humanity has the privilege of directing its emotional energy into any desired "pattern for action" ^[10].
2. The constructive role of physical activity: Physical activity is an excellent way to utilize and control the effects of aggressive responses. Through constructive physical activity, such as tidying an apartment, aggressive emotions can be expended and constructively built, preventing them from accumulating and leading to unregulated, harmful physical constructions ^[11].

In summary, in The Early Sessions Book 2, Seth interprets "action" as a cosmic essence that transcends space and time, is continuous, and is self-directed. Matter is merely a particular presentation of action when perceived by the senses, and humanity, through inner consent and emotional guidance, continually translates and constructs the action of inner reality into the outer physical world.

In The Early Sessions Book 3, Seth develops an in-depth and multidimensional treatment of the concept of "action," defining it as the essential expression of the universe's inner vitality and a dimension of existence. I. The nature of action: a dimension of existence and the dilemma of inner vitality. Seth points out that action is a dimension of existence, the result and the "breath" of the inner vitality inherent in all reality [chunk:5184, 5189]. It arises from a fundamental dilemma (the first dilemma): inner vitality yearns for complete materialization, yet because of its self-generating nature it can never fully materialize; this struggle and imbalance produces action [chunk:5193, 5194]. Action itself cannot be directly and objectively perceived, seen, or touched; any attempt to tamper with it or stop it changes it. It can only be directly experienced without interference [chunk:5185, 5202]. II. The symbiotic relationship among action, identity, and consciousness (the three great dilemmas). In Seth's discussion, structure is action, and identity is also action; the two are inseparable [chunk:5192, 5202]. Identity is the effect of action upon itself, the unfolding and interweaving of action upon itself ^[1]. In order to maintain itself, identity must continually renew itself through action, and each renewal is an ending [chunk:5188, 5189]. From this evolve the second and third great dilemmas:

1. The second dilemma: identity seeks stability, while action necessarily seeks change. The creative tension between the two produces "consciousness of self"; consciousness is not an independent entity, but a dimension of action ^[2].

2. The third dilemma: the ego attempts to separate itself from action, regarding action as an object to be controlled and as a result of its own existence rather than its cause; this attempt at dissociation produces ego consciousness [chunk:5197, 5198]. III. The multidimensional space-time and electrical properties of action. Action does not follow the linear motion of the physical world, nor does it have a true beginning or end; it occurs entirely within the spacious present [chunk:5206, 5289, 5290]. The passage of time that we perceive is merely the apparent transformation that occurs when action enters the field of physical camouflage [chunk:4973, 4977]. Furthermore, action is basically electrical ^[3]. In the electrical system, there are "distances in terms of action," which are depths of intensity rather than spatial distances; dreams and thoughts both belong to this kind of action that occupies no space yet has electrical reality [chunk:5078, 5079, 5186]. IV. The irreversibility of action and value fulfillment. Action is irreversible; once begun, it cannot be withdrawn, denied, or erased [chunk:5231, 5252]. At the same time, the essence of action is value fulfillment; it creates new realities by continually changing reality, and no two actions are ever exactly alike [chunk:5184, 5185, 5205]. V. The action perspective on personality, ego, and illness. The human "personality" is the motion of action on the level of value fulfillment; it belongs to the self-consciousness that is aware of itself as part of action, and therefore it survives physical death and continues to change [chunk:5275, 5277, 5280]. Conversely, illness, such as physical pain, is often rooted in the ego's attempt to isolate itself from the action of which it is composed, thereby creating struggle and conflict with itself [chunk:5264, 5265].