Wu Wei: ancient art of not doing
(Humanity Healing) Wu Wei and the ancient art of not doing.
Wu Wei relating to the concept of Nonintervention
We all heard of the famous expression Laissez-faire, which summarizes the concept of Nonintervention, used initially in the Economic context. But this expression has been used in many various other levels of our ordinary lives. O Wu Wei is a concept with a similar meaning.
Wu Wei is a concept from Taoism that translates to the expression: “non-action.”
It is a philosophical principle that shows us the best way to cope with a situation, especially if it is a conflicting one, is to not act. Going further on its concept, more than not working, Wu Wei teaches us not to force any solution, but instead, to let it flow.
“The path is a constant non-action that leaves nothing unfulfilled.” Chapter 37—Tao Te Ching
This verse from Chapter 37, by Tao Te Ching, brings one of Taoism’s fundamental concepts: the concept of Wu Wei non-action. This concept can be confused with doing nothing, not acting. What Taoism calls non-action is, in fact, an unintended action, an involuntary action. It is an action that does not presuppose intention, but, nevertheless, it does not represent non-action. That is, non-action means doing things naturally, without ingenuity, without the excess of predetermination, without speculation.
Inner silence is what Laozi calls non-action. The Tao is a constant of non-action. Tao’s essential nature is constant silence, a continual stillness, a continuous void that allows the realization of all expressions within it.
The Tao is also like an ample space that allows all things to exist, like a great silence that allows all words, voices, and expressions simultaneously.
Non Action as a way of doing
For most people, it seems strange that there is a current philosophy inviting us to not act. We live in a society that continually leads us to the contrary. In fact, we live saturated with activities, sensations, and thoughts. When we’re not doing anything, we feel weird. We came to think that this is simply a waste of time. We drive ourselves on the permanent feeling that we should always be doing something.
“From emptiness inside the wise Man comes stillness, From stillness, action, From action, success”.
– Chuang Tzu –
Tao Te Ching was written 25 centuries ago by the philosopher Laozi {1}. This philosopher thought that the best way to live was to synchronize ourselves with the flow of nature and the cosmos. This is the main inspiration of Wu Wei: to let things take their natural course and, in consequence, adapting ourselves to the situations as they present themselves in our lives.
Values and virtues in Wu Wei
Wu Wei proposes to us to live a simple life because simplicity is an attitude that most always translates itself into peace and harmony. Simplicity implies not being too attached to ambitions and desires since they are the primary sources of uneasiness and suffering, preventing us from feeling fulfillment in our lives.
Simplicity is the secret of happiness
‘Make your heart like a lake, with calm, still surface, and great depths of kindness.’
-Laozi
Simplicity also helps us to live more serenely. When we focus on having great successes and satisfactions, it becomes impossible to relax and enjoy the small moments of joy and satisfaction. It is a matter of valuing what we are and what we have, instead of regretting what we are not or what we don’t have. It is looking at life and seeing a half-full cup, not a half-empty one.
Likewise, Wu Wei presents that simplicity helps us accept things as they are, not resist the course of events, and not intend to take control over them.
Some of these values and attitudes may contradict Western mentality. Still, they allow us to cultivate a more significant emotional balance and fulfillment of our Souls’ desires.
{1} Lao Tzu is also known as Laozi, Lao Tsu, and Lao-Tze.
Wu Wei and excesses
Wu Wei also draws our attention to the fact that the primary source of problems is the human propensity to practice excess. Contrary to what people may think, it is not the needs but the extras that lead us to feel less than adequate.
In this sense, the practical elements that Wu Wei proposes to us focus on Five main points:
- Accept the fact that problems are a creation of ourselves.
- Problems do not arise out of anywhere; they are created by our actions and our mind.
- Don’t make mental efforts to solve problems. Do not symbolize them in your mind, nor create solutions for them. The idea is to let them dilute themselves and not feed them.
- Discover a way to be grateful for the natural flow of things. To adopt an attitude of observation towards the events, without thinking that we must intervene.
- Let the mind free to follow the flow. Do not try to give a specific direction or focus. Simply allow everything to take its own course, especially when we are calm.
Flowing as clouds on the blue sky
“The Master observes the world but trusts his inner vision. He allows things to come and go. His heart is as open as the sky.”
-Laozi
Wait and observe
One of the central precepts of Wu Wei is to learn to wait and to observe. It starts from the Idea that energy must be conserved for those moments when the action is necessary and undeniable.
Whoever watches and waits for the right moment will know how to act with great wisdom. It will also perform the task with enormous vitality, as it has not wasted energy on irrelevant actions.
It also starts with the idea that those who know how to observe and wait will solve any situation with great ease. This does not mean negligence or passivity, but synchronization with the natural flow of reality. It is always easier to swim with the current, not against it.
We have to emphasize here that nothing remains immutable. The ultimate reality of life is that it is in a constant state of becoming and changing. What exists is continuously evolving, with or without our individual actions.
It is, therefore, a question of not resisting this permanent mutability of reality. Much of our actions are designed to make us resist these changes. This generates an opposing force that is harmful to our lives. It tries to inhibit the universal natural flow, the concept of impermanence. Instead of helping to self-preserve, it invites us to get hurt in this fight. What we must seek is to allow everything to happen naturally, without opposition.
Time and transformations
Our Idea of time is infinite. There is no beginning nor end. What exists is the continual unfolding and natural transformation of things. The transformation that depends on Man depends on his heart in balance and harmony. The change, thus, can be smooth, without ruptures, and the Man will flow naturally with the transformation towards Tao.
Source: Humanity Healing
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