Today's society focuses on the importance of conscious human effort. We celebrate effort, despite its actual effectiveness, as we aim to always be busy for the sake of being busy.  Hard work is necessary and action is often reasonable, but on many occasions, it isn't. That is why we often experience that "forcing things" leads to ruin, and pushing our luck beyond nature's constraints often backfires. Conversely, situations often solve themselves when we don't intervene.

Human effort

Ego often distorts how we perceive reality. For example, when we converse with a spouse, the ego tends to fill the unknown gaps with prejudices, fantasies, and convictions. The larger the ego, the more it will dominate the situation and close us off from what's really going on. That's why Lao Tzu urges us to return to a more unprocessed state he calls "the uncarved block" where the person is unencumbered by intellectual baggage.

The ego

Spending our lives fighting against nature is a waste of time, no matter how much people celebrate us for engaging in the effort. We are really better off accepting what is and navigate through it like water, flowing through a rocky surface.

Navigate through life like water

Lao Tzu, the author of Tao Te Ching, stated that the world governs itself. It doesn't need our intervention. Lao Tzu wrote: "When you arrive at non-action, nothing will be left undone."
The idea resembles the basic understanding of the paradoxical concept "we-wei." Wu-wei means "non-doing", "doing nothing", or "effortless action." It is about aligning our actions with nature and not forcing anything.

Wu-wei

The ancient art of "letting things happen" doesn't make us passive. Lao Tzu stated that using force, "forcing the flow of nature" always leads to unseen troubles. Nature has its course and is always working in the background to create and recreate the 10,000 things.

Wu-wei can enhance our relationship with the world

Confucius described "fasting of the heart" as a form of meditation, which leads to letting our preconceptions go and making room to receive.  Understanding wu-wei helps us to let go of the ego, so we can act with the situation at hand, as it is. We let things happen and act responsibly, unrestrained by our preconceived ideas.

"Fasting of the heart"

We often focus too much on the results.  Zhuangzi talks about how different prospects can influence our actions and emotional states if we attach ourselves to them. In the context of a date, we want the other person to like us, and if we don't succeed, we feel miserable. Instead of just enjoying the evening out, it becomes a stressful event with lots of mental preparations. However, entering a date unprepared lets you act natural. You are present in the moment and most people love that.If we let go of the results, we can act more effortlessly and responsively.

Letting go of the result

We need to be brave enough to let go of what we've learned and ignore our assumptions.  As Lao Tu puts it, "Renounce knowledge and your problems will end. What is the difference between yes and no? What is the difference between good and evil? Must you fear what others fear? Nonsense, look how far you have missed the mark!"

The need for courage

With effortless action, we are not so much doing, but rather going. We start on a river stream without considering where it leads us. We're setting sail into unchartered territory, without getting worried about the great unknown. We swim with the current, not against it, making our way smooth. For example, going on a date means you want to get to know the person. But many people overprepare, overanalyze, and rehearse causing them to become nervous and come across as staged.

Effortless action

Wu Wei is the responsive way of action from a clear openness in yourself.

Despite humanity’s technological developments and will to progress, we’re still utterly dependent on nature. Human effort has its limitations and is always in conjunction with nature. We cannot grow a plant, for example, completely isolated from natural growth, even though we can influence and manipulate it. The reputed author of the Tao Te Ching, Lao Tzu, stated that the world governs itself. It doesn’t need our intervention. As Lao Tzu wrote: “When you arrive at non-action, nothing will be left undone.” End quote. This idea resembles the basic understanding of the paradoxical concept “wu-wei.” But when we look for a definition of wu-wei, we quickly discover that there isn’t one fixed meaning. Some translate wu-wei as “non-action,” or “doing nothing,” others as “actionless action,” and others as “effortless action.” We find out that Taoism offers several layers, if you will, regarding how wu-wei can enhance our relationship with the world. And how this ancient art of “letting things happen” doesn’t necessarily make us passive, ignorant bystanders but can actually improve how we act, leading to better outcomes. This video (Wu-wei | The Art of Letting Things Happen) serves as a humble attempt to make the depth of this philosophical idea clear and practical. Support the channel: ✔️ PayPal: https://www.paypal.me/einzelgangerco ✔️ Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/einzelgangster ✔️ Bitcoin: 3HQnEz1LQ4G6dqN2LdZgzc7qoJjJCyWjTC (Donated BTC and want in the credits? Send me an email with the amount/address) 🎞️ Animations by Munkaa: https://www.youtube.com/user/jus7y Purchase Stoicism for Inner Peace (affiliate links): 📘 Paperback: https://amzn.to/3wB9iHb 💻 Ebook: https://amzn.to/2RdjbKV Purchase Unoffendable (affiliate links): 📘 Paperback: https://amzn.to/2RJYfti 💻 Ebook: https://amzn.to/35e23a5 Merchandise: 🛍️ Shop: teespring.com/stores/einzelgangerstore 🛍️ Merchandise design by Punksthetic Art: https://www.youtube.com/user/JRStoneart All music used is licensed and paid for. Creative Commons (attributions): Laozi (1): https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Ping_Sien_Si_-_016_Lao_zi_(16135526115).jpg Laozi (2): https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Statue_of_Lao_Tzu_in_Quanzhou.jpg Laozi (3): https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Netsuke,_elderly_man_(51370482573).jpg Confucius (1): https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Great_Confucian_Figures_-_Painting_of_Kongzi_by_Kan%C5%8D_Sansetsu.jpg China painting: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:MS-SchwarzlacktablettGoldeneLackmalereiLushan1595-03.JPG Zhuangzi: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Wang_Jianzhang_-_Solitary_Colors_of_the_Autumn_Woods_-_1972.68_-_Cleveland_Museum_of_Art.tif #TAOISM #WUWEI #LAOTZU 00:00 - Intro 02:05 - Wrestling with nature 05:19 - Acting for the act itself 07:57 - The uncarved block

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Despite humanity’s technological developments and will to progress, we’re still utterly dependent on nature. Human effort has its limitations and is always in conjunction with nature. We cannot grow a plant, for example, completely isolated from natural growth, even though we can influence and manipulate it.

The reputed author of the Tao Te Ching, Lao Tzu, stated that the world governs itself. It doesn’t need our intervention. As Lao Tzu wrote: “When you arrive at non-action, nothing will be left undone.” End quote. This idea resembles the basic understanding of the paradoxical concept “wu-wei.” 
But when we look for a definition of wu-wei, we quickly discover that there isn’t one fixed meaning.

Some translate wu-wei as “non-action,” or “doing nothing,” others as “actionless action,” and others as “effortless action.”
We find out that Taoism offers several layers, if you will, regarding how wu-wei can enhance our relationship with the world. And how this ancient art of “letting things happen” doesn’t necessarily make us passive, ignorant bystanders but can actually improve how we act, leading to better outcomes.

This video (Wu-wei | The Art of Letting Things Happen) serves as a humble attempt to make the depth of this philosophical idea clear and practical.

Support the channel:
✔️ PayPal: https://www.paypal.me/einzelgangerco
✔️ Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/einzelgangster
✔️ Bitcoin: 3HQnEz1LQ4G6dqN2LdZgzc7qoJjJCyWjTC
(Donated BTC and want in the credits? Send me an email with the amount/address)

🎞️ Animations by Munkaa:
https://www.youtube.com/user/jus7y

Purchase Stoicism for Inner Peace (affiliate links):
📘 Paperback: https://amzn.to/3wB9iHb
💻 Ebook: https://amzn.to/2RdjbKV

Purchase Unoffendable (affiliate links):
📘 Paperback: https://amzn.to/2RJYfti
💻 Ebook: https://amzn.to/35e23a5

Merchandise:
🛍️ Shop: teespring.com/stores/einzelgangerstore
🛍️ Merchandise design by Punksthetic Art:
https://www.youtube.com/user/JRStoneart

All music used is licensed and paid for.

Creative Commons (attributions):

Laozi (1): https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Ping_Sien_Si_-_016_Lao_zi_(16135526115).jpg
Laozi (2): https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Statue_of_Lao_Tzu_in_Quanzhou.jpg
Laozi (3): https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Netsuke,_elderly_man_(51370482573).jpg
Confucius (1): https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Great_Confucian_Figures_-_Painting_of_Kongzi_by_Kan%C5%8D_Sansetsu.jpg
China painting: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:MS-SchwarzlacktablettGoldeneLackmalereiLushan1595-03.JPG
Zhuangzi: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Wang_Jianzhang_-_Solitary_Colors_of_the_Autumn_Woods_-_1972.68_-_Cleveland_Museum_of_Art.tif

#TAOISM #WUWEI #LAOTZU

00:00 - Intro
02:05 - Wrestling with nature
05:19 - Acting for the act itself
07:57 - The uncarved block

Einzelgänger explores a wide range of topics and ideas, with a dose of "as I see it," out of curiosity and creative urge.

Email: info(@)einzelganger.co

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Wu-wei

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