Wu Wei - The Tao of Non-Doing

Wu Wei - The Tao of Non-Doing PDF Author: Andrew Townsend
Publisher: Independently Published
ISBN:
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 0

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Book Description
Wu Wei - The Tao of Non-Doing explores the Taoist principle of wu wei, or non-doing, along with the related practice of wei wu wei, or effortless action. The goal of this book is to present, as clearly and as simply as possible, the various ways in which you can incorporate the principle of wu wei into your own life in order to accomplish your personal goals more efficiently and effectively as well as to enhance every aspect of the precious gift that is your life. As you will discover through reading the material presented in this book, the principle - or better yet, the practice - of wu wei is both diverse and comprehensive in its varied interpretations and applications. While it would be possible to address the principle of wu wei and its applications independently of any broader philosophical platform, it is conducive to the understanding of wu wei to place this principle within the context of Taoist philosophy. For this reason, this book includes a brief introduction to Taoism in order to acquaint the reader with several of the most salient concepts and principles of Taoist philosophy, especially as these concepts and principles relate to the practices of non-doing and effortless action. Accordingly, the chapters one and two address the concepts of Taoist cosmology, Taoist metaphysics, Tai Chi theory, and Taoist psychology. Chapter three investigates the relationships between the principle of wu wei, the concept of yu wu (being and non-being), and the duality of emptiness and fullness. The material in this book is not just theoretical, however. Chapter four explores how to integrate the non-doing of wu wei into everyday life. Chapter five presents strategies for embracing wei wu wei, or effortless action, from a practical perspective in order to incorporate effortless action into your daily life. Chapter six introduces the practice of "tranquil sitting," which is a form of meditation in which the meditator essentially does nothing, merely sitting quietly and observing the nature of the mind. Chapter seven explains how to stand still and do nothing through the practice of zhan zhuang. Chapter eight investigates how the practice of mindfulness can enhance your efforts to incorporate the principle of wu wei into your daily life. Chapter nine explores the non-doing of silence, not only during seated and standing meditation but also when engaging in activity. Chapter ten addresses the subject of abstinence, which is another form of wu wei, or non-doing. Chapter eleven explores a particular form of abstinence, the practice of fasting. Lastly, chapter twelve discusses how to incorporate the principle of wei wu wei into the practice of tai chi chuan (taijiquan).

Wu Wei - The Tao of Non-Doing

Wu Wei - The Tao of Non-Doing PDF Author: Andrew Townsend
Publisher: Independently Published
ISBN:
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 0

Get Book Here

Book Description
Wu Wei - The Tao of Non-Doing explores the Taoist principle of wu wei, or non-doing, along with the related practice of wei wu wei, or effortless action. The goal of this book is to present, as clearly and as simply as possible, the various ways in which you can incorporate the principle of wu wei into your own life in order to accomplish your personal goals more efficiently and effectively as well as to enhance every aspect of the precious gift that is your life. As you will discover through reading the material presented in this book, the principle - or better yet, the practice - of wu wei is both diverse and comprehensive in its varied interpretations and applications. While it would be possible to address the principle of wu wei and its applications independently of any broader philosophical platform, it is conducive to the understanding of wu wei to place this principle within the context of Taoist philosophy. For this reason, this book includes a brief introduction to Taoism in order to acquaint the reader with several of the most salient concepts and principles of Taoist philosophy, especially as these concepts and principles relate to the practices of non-doing and effortless action. Accordingly, the chapters one and two address the concepts of Taoist cosmology, Taoist metaphysics, Tai Chi theory, and Taoist psychology. Chapter three investigates the relationships between the principle of wu wei, the concept of yu wu (being and non-being), and the duality of emptiness and fullness. The material in this book is not just theoretical, however. Chapter four explores how to integrate the non-doing of wu wei into everyday life. Chapter five presents strategies for embracing wei wu wei, or effortless action, from a practical perspective in order to incorporate effortless action into your daily life. Chapter six introduces the practice of "tranquil sitting," which is a form of meditation in which the meditator essentially does nothing, merely sitting quietly and observing the nature of the mind. Chapter seven explains how to stand still and do nothing through the practice of zhan zhuang. Chapter eight investigates how the practice of mindfulness can enhance your efforts to incorporate the principle of wu wei into your daily life. Chapter nine explores the non-doing of silence, not only during seated and standing meditation but also when engaging in activity. Chapter ten addresses the subject of abstinence, which is another form of wu wei, or non-doing. Chapter eleven explores a particular form of abstinence, the practice of fasting. Lastly, chapter twelve discusses how to incorporate the principle of wei wu wei into the practice of tai chi chuan (taijiquan).

Effortless Action

Effortless Action PDF Author: Edward Slingerland
Publisher: Oxford University Press
ISBN: 0199874573
Category : Philosophy
Languages : en
Pages : 365

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Book Description
This book presents a systematic account of the role of the personal spiritual ideal of wu-wei--literally "no doing," but better rendered as "effortless action"--in early Chinese thought. Edward Slingerland's analysis shows that wu-wei represents the most general of a set of conceptual metaphors having to do with a state of effortless ease and unself-consciousness. This concept of effortlessness, he contends, serves as a common ideal for both Daoist and Confucian thinkers. He also argues that this concept contains within itself a conceptual tension that motivates the development of early Chinese thought: the so-called "paradox of wu-wei," or the question of how one can consciously "try not to try." Methodologically, this book represents a preliminary attempt to apply the contemporary theory of conceptual metaphor to the study of early Chinese thought. Although the focus is upon early China, both the subject matter and methodology have wider implications. The subject of wu-wei is relevant to anyone interested in later East Asian religious thought or in the so-called "virtue-ethics" tradition in the West. Moreover, the technique of conceptual metaphor analysis--along with the principle of "embodied realism" upon which it is based--provides an exciting new theoretical framework and methodological tool for the study of comparative thought, comparative religion, intellectual history, and even the humanities in general. Part of the purpose of this work is thus to help introduce scholars in the humanities and social sciences to this methodology, and provide an example of how it may be applied to a particular sub-field.

Effortless Living

Effortless Living PDF Author: Jason Gregory
Publisher: Simon and Schuster
ISBN: 1620557142
Category : Body, Mind & Spirit
Languages : en
Pages : 246

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Book Description
A guide for achieving an enlightened mind through the art of non-doing • Details meditation practices, focused on stillness of the mind, along with Patanjali’s yoga methods to maintain a consciousness referred to as “being in the zone” • Builds on Taoist, Confucian, and Hindu principles along with scientific findings to support wu-wei--the art of non-doing, non-forcing--as a way of life • Explains how wu-wei practitioners cultivate intelligent spontaneity and effortless action to allow the natural harmony of the cosmos to prevail The practice of non-doing, non-forcing is an essential aspect of Taoism known as wu-wei. Attributed to the great sage Lao-tzu, the philosophy of wu-wei teaches you how to develop a natural state of consciousness not bound by thought or preconceived limitations. Experienced by the greatest artists, athletes, musicians, and writers, this heightened state of consciousness, referred to as “being in the zone,” is where intelligent spontaneity and effortless action flourish via a practice rooted in permitting the natural harmony of the cosmos to prevail. Merging Taoist philosophy, Hindu principles, and Confucianism along with scientific findings, Jason Gregory outlines the practice of wu-wei as a vehicle to realize our innate freedom, revealing that when we release our ego and allow life to unfold as it will, we align ourselves more closely with our goals and cultivate skill and mastery along the way. Equating “being in the zone” with a stillness of the mind, Gregory shares meditation practices coupled with yoga exercises from Patanjali that allow you to approach life with a mastery of acceptance, releasing deluded beliefs of how to achieve success that make your mind “sticky” and poised for conflict. The author shows how practicing wu-wei paradoxically empowers you to accomplish all that you desire by having no intention to do so, as well as allowing you to become receptive to nature’s blueprint for expressing beauty. Revealing wisdom utilized by renowned sages, artists, and athletes who have adapted “being in the zone” as a way of life, the author shows that wu-wei can yield a renewed sense of trust in many aspects of your daily life, making each day more effortless. As an avid wu-wei practitioner, he provides keen insight on how you, too, can experience the beauty of achieving an enlightened, effortless mind while reveling in the process of life’s unfolding.

The Pathless Path

The Pathless Path PDF Author: Paul Millerd
Publisher: Paul Millerd
ISBN:
Category : Business & Economics
Languages : en
Pages : 254

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Book Description
Not all who wander are lost… Paul thought he was on his way. From a small-town Connecticut kid to the most prestigious consulting firm in the world, he had everything he thought he wanted. Yet he decided to walk away and embark on the "real work" of his life - finding the work that matters and daring to create a life to support that. This Pathless Path is about finding yourself in the wrong life, and the real work of figuring out how to live. Through painstaking experiments, living in different countries, and contemplating the deepest questions about life, Paul pieces together a set of ideas and principles that guide him from unfulfilled and burned out to a life he is excited to keep living. The Pathless Path is not a how-to book filled with “hacks”; instead, it is a vulnerable account of Paul’s journey from leaving the socially accepted “default path” towards another, one focused on doing work that matters, finding the others, and defining your own success. This book is an ideal companion for people considering leaving their jobs, embarking on a new path, dealing with the uncertainty of an unconventional path, or looking to improve their relationship with work in a fast-changing world. Reader feedback: “It’s a rare book in that it is tangentially about careers and being more focused and productive, but unlike almost every other book I have read about these topics, I finished this one and felt better about myself and my career.” “The themes are timeless. The content is expertly written. The advice is refreshingly non-prescriptive.” “If you have questioned your own path, or a nagging lack of intention in your choices you need this book. If you have felt a gradual loss of agency in your direction you need this book. You are in the grip of an invisible script that was not written for you.” “The writing is fantastic - Paul's writing is approachably poetic; a quick read that weaves together his own experience moving from a 'default path' overachiever to a 'pathless path' seeker of passion and curiosity, deep research into the history of work and collections of perspectives from years of podcasting, friendship, conferences, and meetings with other 'alternative path' life-livers."

A Study of Wei (doing) and Wu Wei (non-doing) in Lao Tzu's Tao Te Ching

A Study of Wei (doing) and Wu Wei (non-doing) in Lao Tzu's Tao Te Ching PDF Author: Gwan-Yuen Li
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Taoism
Languages : en
Pages : 250

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Book Description


Do Nothing and Do Everything

Do Nothing and Do Everything PDF Author: Qiguang Zhao
Publisher: Paragon House
ISBN: 9781557788894
Category : Religion
Languages : en
Pages : 0

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Book Description
The power of the Tao has accompanied the author through his journey as pupil during the Chinese Cultural Revolution to professor at an American liberal arts college. In Do Nothing and Do Everything he applies the ideas of Wu Wei (do nothing) and Wu Bu Wei (do everything) to modern life. Do Nothing and Do Everything is supplemented by observations of American and Chinese life. Rich and humorous illustrations convey the subtle ideas that go beyond language and are re-created in the same style as the ones the author draws impromptu on the blackboard in his classes. This introduction to ancient Taoism is conveyed in a lighthearted and humorous manner. This illustrated new Taoism will answer the widespread thirst for an alternative approach to life, and a longing for health, tranquility, and spiritual liberation.

Laotzu's Tao and Wu Wei

Laotzu's Tao and Wu Wei PDF Author: Dwight Goddard
Publisher: Cosimo, Inc.
ISBN: 1602063168
Category : Philosophy
Languages : en
Pages : 125

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Book Description
In this clarion translation of Laotzu's Tao Te Ching, first published in 1919, Goddard brings the complexity and depth of the ancient philosopher's poetry into the English language, his great love for the topic overcoming the necessary shortcomings of translation. There are three concepts that are essential to the Tao Te Ching-Tao, Te, and Wu Wei-that all have complex meanings that cannot be directly translated, but spiritual seekers and those with an interest in philosophy and religion will find Goddard's treatment of Laotzu lyrical and deeply meaningful. American writer DWIGHT GODDARD (1861-1939) studied at a monastery in Kyoto, Japan, for a year and was among the first Westerners to bring Zen Buddhism to the United States. His most famous book is The Buddhist Bible (1938).

Trying Not to Try

Trying Not to Try PDF Author: Edward Slingerland
Publisher: Crown
ISBN: 0770437621
Category : Psychology
Languages : en
Pages : 304

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Book Description
A deeply original exploration of the power of spontaneity—an ancient Chinese ideal that cognitive scientists are only now beginning to understand—and why it is so essential to our well-being Why is it always hard to fall asleep the night before an important meeting? Or be charming and relaxed on a first date? What is it about a politician who seems wooden or a comedian whose jokes fall flat or an athlete who chokes? In all of these cases, striving seems to backfire. In Trying Not To Try, Edward Slingerland explains why we find spontaneity so elusive, and shows how early Chinese thought points the way to happier, more authentic lives. We’ve long been told that the way to achieve our goals is through careful reasoning and conscious effort. But recent research suggests that many aspects of a satisfying life, like happiness and spontaneity, are best pursued indirectly. The early Chinese philosophers knew this, and they wrote extensively about an effortless way of being in the world, which they called wu-wei (ooo-way). They believed it was the source of all success in life, and they developed various strategies for getting it and hanging on to it. With clarity and wit, Slingerland introduces us to these thinkers and the marvelous characters in their texts, from the butcher whose blade glides effortlessly through an ox to the wood carver who sees his sculpture simply emerge from a solid block. Slingerland uncovers a direct line from wu-wei to the Force in Star Wars, explains why wu-wei is more powerful than flow, and tells us what it all means for getting a date. He also shows how new research reveals what’s happening in the brain when we’re in a state of wu-wei—why it makes us happy and effective and trustworthy, and how it might have even made civilization possible. Through stories of mythical creatures and drunken cart riders, jazz musicians and Japanese motorcycle gangs, Slingerland effortlessly blends Eastern thought and cutting-edge science to show us how we can live more fulfilling lives. Trying Not To Try is mind-expanding and deeply pleasurable, the perfect antidote to our striving modern culture.

Wei Wu Wei Ching

Wei Wu Wei Ching PDF Author: Brian Browne Walker
Publisher:
ISBN: 9780982599358
Category : Philosophy
Languages : en
Pages : 148

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Book Description
"This book is an attempt to put a collection of diamond cutting tools in the pocket of anyone who seriously wants to make use of them to realize enlightenment, the Self, Big Mind." from the Introduction Wei wu wei, or "doing non-doing," is the central liberating idea of Zen, Ch'an, Taoism, and -- under whatever name -- most every other enlightenment tradition in the world. From decades of reading in them all, Brian Browne Walker, author of beloved translations of the I Ching, Tao te Ching, Hua hu Ching, and Art of War, has formulated a subtle, calming set of teachings designed to usher the practitioner through the back door of realization. That door, the ancients teach us, is always left ajar. Designed to be read in an ordinary manner or consulted as an oracle in the fashion of the I Ching, Wei wu Wei Ching is also available as an app for iPhone, iPad, and all Android phones and tablets via the store at www.brianbrownewalker.com. In this tradition of wei wu wei, we don't have a thing to offer you. That is why you can rely upon it for everything.

Tao Te Ching

Tao Te Ching PDF Author: Laozi
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category :
Languages : en
Pages :

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Book Description