I intend to explore sloth as a facet of human nature, as well as its impact and other related issues. Sloth is defined as a disinclination toward doing any work, and it was and is still a recurrent phase in human behaviour, and one that society in general is still conditioned to believe is an evil. In fact, the first impression of Christian proselytes as they began their missions in India was that they had a cultural inclination toward sloth. Because of their practice of meditation, they would put down “doing” in order to experience being more fully. Do we not, each of us, experience moments of “sloth”?

We all do for a variety of reasons; biological, cognitive and spiritual. Can we totally avoid periods of sloth?

• I hope not. To me these are periods of being in-between states of activity and repair. I agree.
• I’d imagine that would lead to burnout? Ah indeed, and what has been the impact of burnout in today’s very “responsible” world?

Erm..going postal? Yes. Weird outbursts have become almost a rule and yet if we indulge in sloth, especially if people know we practice deliberate downtime besides church or metal health therapy, well… It isn’t given esteem is it?

They do look upon you differently, but who is the most centered, balanced and carries quiet joy? The one who admits their nature/center is peace, and allows themselves to rest there as needed.

One of the “evils” attributed to sloth is invention. When people are disinclined toward work they do remain in a thinking mind and tend to see “easier” ways to do any work. This was seen as a reluctance to grow the spirit. Do any of you agree? Is it diminishing of the spirit to find these easier ways? This was the dominant view of sloth and still is.

It is through quietness and spirit I find ways to make it easier. The spirit in this quietness was given a name. It was the “demon” from the Latin word daemon by the way. The name was Belphegor (bel-fa-gore). Plato spoke to the dark side of sloth when he noted what leads one to apathy and then to misanthropy. Abstaining from sloth has not given any culture a cure to apathy.

I was thinking that the accompanying apathy is more the “sin” spoken of? Isn’t sin derived from the Greek. Missing the mark? It indeed is, and sloth hits a mark or gives you time to improve your aim. As you indulge your disinclination to physical work, you will inevitably be moved to “invention”, creative work or ideas. This is also human nature, and we have prospered to the degree that we have sought easier/more efficient ways to accomplish any of our goals. Where is the apathy in this?

I find my periods of sloth let me continue to care about people and events rather than the opposite. But apathy can seem to be sloth, because it manifests behaviourally first as a disinclination to engage in activity or communication. Contrasted to sloth which often involves a great deal of communication, does it not?

I offer that the “evil” of sloth arises from a refusal to indulge in it. Leading to an apathy and then to a misanthropy as you cannot allow others to engage in sloth if you will not permit it in yourself.

Your thoughts are welcome. Be well friends.

Travis Saunders
Dragon Intuitive
~science,mysticism,spirituality~