Most of us go through life trying to impose our will on the world, but despite our efforts to impose our wishes, the Taoist "philosophy of happiness" states that harmony can be achieved by inaction.
The literal meaning of Wu Wei is "without exertion". It means that we should perform our actions spontaneously according to the circumstances of the moment. You are almost entirely out of control of a set of conditions caused by the staggering number of events that have led up to this point in your life, and acting in accordance with these inevitable conditions will help you succeed, rather than locking yourself into a battle with an unbeatable world.
Written in China around 600 BC, The Tao Te Ching first articulated the idea of Wu Wei. ”Do that which consists in taking no action and order will prevail". Rather than forcing action, we should get comfortable with doing less. Afterward, when we move, our actions are natural, energetic, and successful.
“Life is a series of natural and spontaneous changes. Don’t resist them; that only creates sorrow. Let reality be reality. Let things flow naturally forward in whatever way they like.”
Lao Tzu, founder of philosophical Taoism
Nature is the most tangible manifestation of Wu Wei. For example, it is not up to the clouds to decide when it will rain, the water gathers instead as they wait. Wu wei is deeply connected to the modern Spiritual Ecology and is based in the Taoist reverence for the natural world, for it means "striving to make our behaviour as spontaneous and inevitable as certain natural processes, and to ensure that we are swimming with rather than against currents".
The idea of slowing down and breaking away from the constant search for success can seem strange in the modern world. We’re told by popular culture, entertainment, and social media that we always need to be setting goals, striving for targets, and working on our side hustles. But is that really sustainable?
We should all take time to relax and take care of ourselves. For this there are techniques of mindfulness, meditation and well-being. When we stop making waves and learn to wait and watch, we can see outside forces more clearly and make wiser decisions. Every step we take is a potential mistake when we act hastily, driven mainly by emotions and ego.
But how can we see clearly the influence of Taoism in the Chinese leadership? The following are two ways Wu Wei may be held:
1. A situation should not be forced, but rather participated in and effectively experienced. It is a reflexive process of Wu Wei because the person is aware of what they are doing and who they are in the situation; they are not forcing the situation because they are in flow. 2. Believing and practicing Wu Wei enables the person to avoid risk, to stay safe from criticism and to avoid doing anything for which they could be blamed. This can be reflexive because the person is aware of the risks they could take, and decides that those risks are not worthwhile. This is to protect oneself in a way which can produce career advancement without any necessary external good consequences for anyone else.
Wu Wei teaches us to align ourselves with the rhythms of the elements within and outside of our bodies. Using this approach might be referred to as "going with the flow", a kind of Slow Living Lifestyle or natural way of handling life's challenges.
Our energy is finite. By not acting rashly, we keep it so we can use it when the time is right. As one of the principles of Kabbalah also mentions: "Resisting reactive impulses creates lasting light." Therefore, Wu Wei is not about resignation or laziness, it is about self-preservation.