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

Wu Wei or non-doing simply means natural actions or effortless actions.   In actual sense, it does not meaning doing nothing but it means understanding the orders of things and doing the right thing effortlessly.   People should observe the natural world, avoid forcing actions and   create room for ‘flow of life’.  In performing actions, people need to consider skill and efficiency and allow the nature to accomplish everything (Slingerland, 2015).  The point is that the level of Wu Wei is achieved when people follow the order of things and apply minimal effort.  However, people make mistake by interfering with the natural laws.

  In connection with Confucianism, people especially city dwellers should adhere to moral, cultural and social values in modern day living. It is their responsibility to maintain harmony or in other words they should respect the rules of virtue.  For example, one of the aspects of wu Wei is unconditional happiness. This means that people require unconditional happiness is this achieved when kindness and compassion are offered. In other words, in order to achieve happiness or long-lasting fulfillment, people should do things to them and to others which will cause happiness and should allow happiness occur naturally. People should act in a positive way to attain happiness.  Other aspect is love-this means that people cannot strive to find love since love occurs naturally (Slingerland, 2015). However, it is their responsibility to make relationships with new people and find new experiences.  Generally, through doing actions of the highest quality to bring love and happiness, people should avoid interfering with the process and wait for natural flow of things. Finally, wu wei (non-doing) in city dwellers can be presented   through dedication.   For example in places of work, people should be faithful and committed in their work for their own benefits and for the benefits of others.  In this case, people should be devoted to duties and after following the order of things, faithfulness and commitment will occur (Slingerland, 2015).

 

 

 

Reference

Slingerland, E. G. (2015). Trying not to try: The ancient art of effortlessness and the surprising power of

spontaneity.