The Way of Wu Wei

One of my favorite non-Christian spiritual concepts is wu wei, it is a Chinese word that means non-doing or effortless doing. Daoism is a Chinese Philosophy about the Dao, or the Way of the Universe. Think about it as the Life Energy that permeates the world (or what we call God, Spirit and so many other names). Daoism invites us to be in the world in such a way as to live in harmony with this life force which requires us to practice wu wei lest we get caught up in distractions and striving.

Interestingly enough, Isaiah 40: 28-31 includes a Hebrew word for “wait” that the Inclusive Bible (written by the Jesuits) says is better translated as wu wei. Here’s my basic version of this passage:

Have you not known? Have you not heard?

God is the only one who doesn’t ever get tired or weary.

All of the rest of us will…

But God will give strength to the weary

And empower the powerless

When you WAIT!!

Then you will have a renewed power, soar on eagle’s wings, and not grow weary.

The Inclusive Bible’s footnote says this:

To “wait” for God is to cultivate an attitude of hope and patient expectation – the very definition of faith. Usually the Hebrew verb means a waiting for God to act, to bring vindication or to rescue the people from oppression; here, however, it is more akin to the Taoist concept of wu wei, or nonaction: by waiting for God’s empowerment instead of relying on one’s own resources, one receives an inexhaustible supply of strength.

I would like to suggest, from personal experience, that by and large we are a stubbornly independent people, who (by and large) are also impatient. It’s possible that the word “wait” is the newest four-letter dirty word.

And non-action isn’t thought of kindly in our society either. Non-action is for the lazy, the uncaring, the complacent, the ignorant, the can’t-be-bothered, the I-didn’t-get-an-ounce-of-my-parent’s-protestant-work-ethic folks.

So, this whole concept of wu wei is really hard. It is counter-cultural. It goes against everything we’ve been told and taught about how to get things done, how to get anywhere in life. We’re supposed to keep pushing and trying. Keep at it like a dog on a bone.

What if sometimes we’re supposed to let go of the bone? What if letting go of that bone is the only way to move forward?!

Edward Slingerland, a professor from the University of British Columbia tells a story about a game called Mind Ball at his local science museum. In this game, two opponents sit opposite each other at a table, about 5 feet apart. Between them is a small track with a metal ball in it. Each opponent rests their forehead on an EKG monitor that senses their brainwaves. The goal is to move the ball to the opponents end of the track without touching it. Instead, the game uses alpha and theta brain waves to move the ball to the opposite end of the table. To emit those brain waves you have to relax your brain and not think. This is an exercise in trying not to try. Edward said the first time he tried it he closed his eyes and relaxed. He could hear the ball moving and couldn’t resist peaking, so he opened his eyes and the ball was almost to the other end of the table. He thought to himself, “Hey, I’m winning.” And as soon as he did that the ball stopped moving, then started rolling back toward him. He started to panic and tried to get back in the groove, but once you’ve lost it, it is very hard to get back and he said he lost badly that day.

Trying not to try, going with the flow, being in the zone, is something that athletes, musicians and artists understand well. But it is also a valuable skill for many everyday situations like trying to sleep, going on an interview, entering a new situation, being creative. Any time someone says “be yourself” they are encouraging you to let go of stiving and trying to “get it right” and be in the flow of the moment with your genuine self.

While society wants us to push harder, start earlier, and persevere longer to achieve, sometimes this is counterproductive. It is quite a paradox. If you are trying to be 007 you are not 007. If you are trying to be happy, or trying to have fun, you probably aren’t those things. A genuine person doesn’t try to be genuine, they just are. We can sense that. Creativity and inspiration can’t be forced… even companies are figuring this out.

Google has designed its office buildings to incorporate places for people to play. Their Venice office has a climbing wall, Zurich has a slide, most have video gaming and others have swimming, gyms, volleyball and more. Why? Because when you’re pushing and pushing and don’t give your brain a break, you accomplish nothing, or maybe what you accomplish isn’t right, or isn’t what it could be.

We know when we’re pushing too hard and need some wu wei when we feel overwhelmed, snappy, exhausted. I know I need a break when I’m trying to force my way forward and I find myself becoming nervous or anxious. Then it is time to take a break and try using a flow activity to get me out of myself and into wu wei.

A flow activity is something in which you are involved and active (so streaming movies doesn’t count). Itt is something you enjoy doing where you lose track of time like gardening, running, walking the dog, cooking, crafting and art.

The Isaiah passage says that when we wait for God, we’ll find renewed strength. Again, this is intentional waiting – without trying – to be filled, to be renewed, to find inspiration, courage, strength and energy to go on. It is about tapping into the life force around us, by stopping our minds long enough to let something more in.

May we stop pushing so hard, practice wu wei and find renewed strength and insight for whatever is happening in our lives.

Love & Light!

Kaye