“Nature never hurries, yet everything is accomplished. (道常無為而無不為。)” — Lao Tzu.
Definition
- A concept meaning “inexertion”, “inaction”, or “effortless action”
- A state of personal harmony and free-flowing
- ≠ 什麼事都不做、整天無所事事
- = 無為而治，不為自己的利益和欲望做事
- 「取天下也，恆無事；及其有事也，不足以取天下。」
- 「我無為而民自化，我好靜而民自正，我無事而民自富，我無欲而民自樸。」
Philosopher Alan Watts believed that Wu Wei can be described as “not-forcing.”
- The drift of things; going with the flow. It is the art of sailing, rather than rowing.
- The river is not pushed from behind, nor is it pulled from ahead. It falls with gravity.
I’ve experienced Wu Wei in my life when I’ve chosen not to immediately act on something, or simply do nothing and embrace laziness.
See also: