8.  Water

The best of men is like water;
   Water benefits all things
   And does not compete with them.
It dwells in (the lowly) places that all disdain –
   Wherein it comes near to the Tao.

In his dwelling, (the Sage) loves the (lowly) earth;
In his heart, he loves what is profound;
In his relations with others, he loves kindness;
In his words, he loves sincerity;
In government, he loves peace;
In business affairs, he loves ability;
In his actions, he loves choosing the right time.
   It is because he does not contend
   That he is without reproach. Chapter 8 Tao Te Ching, Lin Yu Tang trans.)

In my last post, I talked about how to know whether what you are doing comes from the mind/ego or from the true self.

I discussed the ways you can tell, and I also discussed that it really doesn’t matter because everything you do involves the Tao.

Remember that those who are on the path to knowledge have awareness of the true self and knowledge of how the mind can control. Once you are there, knowing the difference becomes easier.

Today, I will talk about the concept of Wu Wei and living in the manifestation.

There has been a lot written about Wu Wei and what it is. Most of the time, these writings are confusing because the idea of Wu Wei is a paradox.

Wu Wei means “not doing”. But how do you “do” “not doing?”

One thing is for sure: Wu Wei does not mean literally not doing anything.

As I have said, we live in the manifestation, which is the Tao itself. Living means doing things. From eating to sleeping to working or just being quiet, all of these things take place every day.

So how does one do all the things that we must do without doing?

Look at nature. Take a river, for example. A river flows from its source, usually in a place of high ground, and flows downward, typically to the sea. The river can be large or small. Other streams or rivers can flow into it. During times of high water, it may flood. During periods of drought, it may stop flowing.

It does all this with “no mind”.

We are not rivers. We have much more complex lives than a river. Relationships, careers, jobs, and other activities occupy our days. Most of us, unlike nature, do not simply follow the seasons.

Often, we must plan and anticipate future events like meetings and appointments. Unless you live like a hermit, there is no simple way to avoid all future planning. Even “getting back to nature” involves planning.  Planning for the future is a form of Wu Wei if it is what is needed at that moment.

That’s how it all works: doing what is needed at that moment. Oftentimes, it is a simple act that does not require any major thought. We simply do what we must. Driving to work, eating breakfast, doing your job, etc.

However, often our best plans are disrupted by outside events: we wake up sick, our car won’t start. We have a flat tire, our kid is sick, or maybe there is a snowstorm.

While these distractions are annoying, they are all part of the Tao. Dealing with them, like everything else, is part of Wu Wei.

You should handle these distractions the same as your usual activities.  Yes, your mind and ego may be annoyed, but it is just another situation. Wu Wei simply means dealing with them. Doing whatever it takes. In a major disaster, your response will be different than for a minor inconvenience, but your internal approach to both will be the same. 

Remember, the manifestation is the Tao. Dealing with life within it means using what the manifestation provides. As Lao Tzu says in chapter one of the Tao Te Ching, you see the manifestation with passion. That means with your mind, body, and emotions. Meditation may help calm you down, but it won’t help you deal with the reality that is the manifestation.

So, Wu Wei means we act and do, but without being dragged down by our emotions or mind. It really means dealing with whatever comes our way with a clear mind, using the tools we have to enjoy life or to deal with problems.

Anyone can get caught up easily in emotional conflicts.  They can spend days, weeks, or even years stewing over situations instead of dealing with them directly. While it is part of the manifestation and thus a part of the Tao,  it is not following Wu Wei because it doesn’t directly address the situation. Being self-absorbed with a problem is not acting in accord with Wu Wei.

In the quote at the top, Lao Tzu describes how the sage acts within the manifestation. He focuses on gentleness, kindness, ability, and choosing the right time as what the best of people do. He does not say the sage does nothing. He implies that the sage acts routinely. Again, showing that Wu Wei does not mean “not doing”.

Nor does it mean we act without intent. Clearly, acting properly in the manifestation means acting with intent, rather than simply floating along with the breeze.

As you become more in tune with your true self through meditation, things will become clearer. Your mind and ego will still be there, trying to pull you in different directions or to distract you from progressing on the path, but they will have much less influence than before.

The more you allow your true self to guide you, the more you will be acting in Wu Wei.

Always remember that the manifestation is the Tao. Learn to live within it. The more in tune you are to the movements of the manifestation, the more you will be living in Wu Wei. And that is the secret to life in the physical dimension.

Namaste,

Michael Tavella, author of

“Break Through To Your True Self”

Yourtrueself.blog