Wu Wei the Pooh Way: Taoism in Action

““Just how do you do it, Pooh?”

“Do what?” asked Pooh.

Become so Effortless.”

“I don’t do much of anything,” he said.

“But all those things of yours get done.”

“They just sort of happen,” he said.”

…Wu Wei means no going against the nature of things; no Monkeying around. … When we learn to work with our own inner nature and the natural laws operating around us, we reach the level of Wu Wei. Then we work with the natural order of things and operate on the principle of minimal effort. Since the natural world follows that principle, it does not make mistakes. Mistake are made-or imagined- by man, the creature with the overloaded Brain who separates himself from the supporting network of natural laws by interfering and trying too hard. Not like Pooh, the most effortless Bear we’ve ever seen.”

                                                                                      ---The Tao of Pooh, by Benjamin Hoff

 

Above is one of the best explanations of the powerful principle of Wu Wei I have found. The less “monkeying around” we do-- the less we push ourselves beyond our natural limits-- the more energy, flexibility, and strength we will achieve over time, with much less likelihood of injury. Practicing Wu Wei requires patience, alertness to the reality of the present moment, and lots of compassionate self-acceptance. Isn’t it wonderful that all of this is built into the practice of Qigong? It’s a valuable principle to apply to life in general, too.  As Hoff writes in this simple, wise, and beautiful book (which I highly recommend!):

“The efficiency of Wu Wei is like that of water flowing over and around the rocks in its path- not the mechanical, straight-line approach that usually ends up short-circuiting natural laws, but one that evolves from an inner sensitivity to the natural rhythm of things.”

Many thanks and a Taoist salute to Jane Meryll and Larry Leo for inspiring this newsletter!