Actionless Action (Daosim) and the Practice of Virtue (Confucianism)

Week 4 Discussion for World Religions – REL212

“Actionless Action (Daosim) and the Practice of Virtue (Confucianism)” Please respond to the following:

Identify and explain at least three aspects of wu wei (non-doing) that would be practical in the busy lives of city dwellers, especially those living in the West. Provide a rationale for your response.

Wu wei is action less action or taking no intentional on invasive action contrary to the natural flow of things. Wu wei is spontaneous, creative activity, action without ego-assertion. Going with the flow and rhythms of the Dao, not striving or working against the nature of the Dao. It is letting things take their natural course in their own time one should yield to nature or follow nature and not the dictates of society; one should practice non-artificiality. Thus one should take no action against nature nor interfere with natural ways.

Many city dwellers live life at a fast pace, constantly multitasking and very demanding. Three aspects of Wu wei (non-doing) that would be practical in the busy lives of city dwellers would be going with the flow or behavior occurring in response to the flow of the Tao. The second aspect of Wu-wei that city dwellers can incorporate is the need to consciously experience ourselves as part of the unity of life that is the Tao. Lao Tzu writes that we must be quiet and watchful, learning to listen to both our own inner voices and to the voices of our environment in a non-interfering, receptive manner. Lastly, in the words of Chuang Tzu, we learn “detachment, forgetfulness of results, and abandonment of all hope of profit.” By allowing the Tao to work through us, we render our actions truly spontaneous, natural, and effortless. We thus flow with all experiences and feelings as they come and go. We know intuitively that actions which are not ego-motivated, but in response to the needs of the environment, lead toward harmonious balance and give ultimate meaning and “purpose” to our lives. Such actions are attuned to the deepest flow of life itself. All three aspects are harmonious when practiced but being a city dweller myself, I cannot foresee it evolving because we are so selfish in nature.

Fisher, M. P. (2014). Living religions (9th ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson.

http://www.jadedragon.com/archives/june98/tao.html