The softest thing in the universe. Overcomes the hardest thing in the universe. That without substance can enter where there is no room. Hence I know the value of non-action. Teaching without words and work without doing Are understood by very few.– Lao Tzu
If you’ve been tracking on my first few posts, you’ll know I’ve been spending some time with the teachings of Lao Tzu, a preeminent author of Taoist philosophy.
One of the principle tenets of Taoism is the concept of Wu Wei or non-action. The idea of non-action is to flow with life in our efforts. To align oneself in action with nature and eliminate contrived action from our doing.
Lately I’ve been integrating the concept of Wu Wei in my daily practice, so that I might better understand its subtleties and get a sense of how it might contrast with some of the achievement-driven language that is so popular in the field of personal growth.
Wu Wei has been a challenging practice for me, as I have worked in overdrive most of my adult life. It has only been in the last few years, and especially since becoming a parent, that I have begun to recognize the pitfalls of perpetual “doing.”
I find that as I bring the concept of non-action into my practice, it’s teaching further amplifies three areas of personal commitment:
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Maintain awareness.
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Focus on the present moment.
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Keep actions in alignment with one’s inner nature.
Since the idea of non-action is to stay in a natural state, it would follow that maintaining awareness would be essential to the practice.
Although I’ve been able to make peace with many of the consciousness-blurring habits I engaged in during my earlier years, there are still activities that regularly pull me away from the seat of awareness.
The primary culprits of distraction for me these days are the traps of perpetual busyness and emotional self-righteousness.
Although I am more consistent in my ability to recognize these distractions when they arise, there are times when I utterly fail to keep them in check.
It seems my mind is constantly reminding me of the never-ending task list that comes with raising children, maintaining a marriage, holding a job, keeping a home, and nurturing personal relationships. I do like to stay on top of things, but compulsive task completion is nothing short of an inner-peace killer for me.
Likewise, my ego loves to indulge itself from time to time, allowing my emotions to take me on a self-serving ride only to drop me off back at the seat of awareness exhausted. In those moments of righteous indignation, I feel completely fired-up by whatever I have allowed to set me off, but these aberrations are quickly replaced by the recognition that I have once again let my emotions get the better of me.
These distractions typically illicit anxiety, fear, or anger from me, which greatly impact my perceptions and interactions with the rest of the world. In those moments, I am less inclined to choose a meaningful response to situations that require action on my part, as my goals become completely self-serving.
When I am relaxed and in a more natural state, I’m inclined to be more kind, receptive, and cooperative with those around me.
Being in the natural state of non-action fosters being completely in the present moment without attending to distractions of past or future.
My children have been my greatest teachers in helping me to recognize just how much beauty resides within the present moment. There are times in which we can be doing the most mundane of activities and I am acutely aware of the perfection of the moment. There is nothing more or less that need be done.
When I am able to completely absorb myself in the present, the execution of my tasks are more efficient and require less energy. I am able to relinquishing any concern for what’s next or worry about how my work might be interpreted or judged by others.
An incredible amount of energy is freed up when I let go and just focus on what’s in front of me. I can complete my work and then let it go.
As I spend more time in this practice, I notice I have an increased tendency to move between action and inaction with a natural ebb and flow. When I feel the momentum to act, I do so and when I feel the need to rest, I succumb.
You’d think I’d get a lot less done operating in this fashion, but in reality I’m not spinning my wheels as much as I use to. I’m less inclined to force my will upon an activity.
If a block presents itself in the process of getting something done, I’ve come to recognize it may be a necessity that I don’t understand the reasons for just yet and I can let it go.
If I am in a natural state, that which springs forth from the silence is born from my inner nature.
This part of the practice has been particularly profound for me, as I have held a perception for years that certain areas of my inner nature have been hidden from my view. It is only recently that I’ve come to recognize I’ve been staring at these parts of myself for years and have been unable to acknowledge their constant presence in everything I do.
The best example I can give of this is my professional work. For years, I’ve worked in an industry that has provided me decent employment and has utilized many of my skill sets. However, I’ve always felt a sense of not truly being able to fulfill my potential along this path. I’ve also experienced a great deal of push back from Life as I’ve attempted to exert myself within the profession, like Life itself is trying to tell me I’m not doing the work I’m suppose to be doing.
Over the past year I’ve spent a lot of time with this quandary, as I’ve seen a definitive need to make change in my professional life.
It has only been with stillness that I’ve come to recognize that sharing my spiritual practice and strategies for personal growth have been with me all along. I’ve been talking to people about these things throughout my life and within all of my professional incarnations. This is truly who I am and what I do when left to my own devices.
What I’ve had to come to terms with is that nothing has been hidden from me. I’ve been hiding from myself.
Now that I can accept this as my life work, all the needs and wants I’ve had for my professional practice make sense and can be fulfilled. The most amazing part of it all is that its just been sitting there waiting for me…for me to give myself permission.
This to me, speaks of the ineffable part of being human. The knowing of ourselves that springs from the unknown is our birthright and responsibility to understand.
We are each cut from a unique fabric with unique offerings to share with the world. Our work is to figure out what that is and act accordingly.
Finally, I think it is important to point out that moving in flow with the natural way of things does not equate to living without will. The question is whether our actions support the natural order of things or are exerted against it.
It is our intentions and motivations that inform how we will act in the world and whether or not those actions will be supported. If we act from the calling of our inner nature, our actions will be more inclined to find support outside of ourselves.
What habits do you typically engage in that take you out of awareness?
When you suspend your mental framework of what life should be, what emerges from within you? What is the thing you can’t help but do or be? Are you attending to this part of you?
Please feel free to leave a comment. What you say could be helpful to someone else!