This is an excellent piece, @rok-sivante, and precisely so because you raise some very pertinent questions about acting in the world. There are, however, some important misconceptions about Taoist philosophy which have much to do with how the text is interpreted.
Take for example the lines "to do nothing." This does not mean - as is commonly interpreted by those who do not understand the context of the age - to be a passive observer and to simply allow events to unfold.
It means to not act from the position of an isolated, separated ego; but rather as an entity fully engaged with reality as it unfolds. To be fully engaged and fully immersed means to have entered the silence between thoughts and to position oneself from this heightened perspective.
In this way there is no mental buffer between oneself and reality as it unfolds. No thought-cage which blocks incoming perceptions. Thinking hinders full receptivity. To invoke science at this point we can say:
"Of the 400 billion bits of information per second that reach the brain, only 2,000 bits are utilized."
We must understand that the I Ching and Tao Te Ching were all written by entities who by default existed in Zen-mind (thoughtlessness, and absolute mental calm.) Nobody would have accepted these texts as credible if this were not a prerequisite.
With total mental silence more bits of information can be processed. A great symbolic representation of this is the movie "Limitless".* A pill allows the ingester to make full use of all the variables in his/her environment so to act in the best possible way in which to achieve the desired outcome.*
This encapsulates Zen-mind, and makes sense of the phrase " to do nothing."
You're doing 'nothing' because you are fully a part of the equation which is the reality of the moment. So, you are neither resisting nor separating yourself out from the flow but rather you are congruent in your movements and are capable of affecting the ultimate change.
This is known as "skillful action." Hence, it appears as if you are doing nothing because you are not discordant in your actions. But it does not translate to sitting still and fluttering your eyelids in calm repose as someone lunges at you with a samurai sword LOL. When your mind is calm then you will know how to act with each unfolding moment in a way that the Tao flows through you. The Tao cannot flow through a cluttered mind.
"Allowing the world to unfold as it will..." Does not translate to stepping back to allow it all to run its course. You are already part of the world by the fact of your presence. Even you attempting to minimize your interference will still affect the flow of events There is no escaping this fact. And it has been proven through countless experiments. As a passive observer you are still part of the equation as it unfolds.
So, these ancient texts are NOT advising that you remain at the minimal level of engagement as you go through life - that would be imbecilic.
They are, in fact, advising the very opposite: that you intensify your involvement in reality as it unfolds by shutting your mind up and allowing all of your bodily intelligence to open up in an embrace of the totality of the moment so that when you feel the urge to act (which you will) you will act in the most appropriate manner.
I find it really interesting how thematically I am seeing so many of us on the same page and we can be talking about different things, but it all relates to the same overall theme. I am noticing this more and more every day. I will see like 3 or 4 posts come up around the same time all in relation to a theme and will we all be talking about something totally different or a vastly different perspective of the same thing. It reaffirms the law of attraction for me, clearly we exist in complementary realities. Thanks for sharing :)
I see the assumption that wisdom comes with age all the time. Maybe people want to believe that someone older than them has the answers?
You also see the belief that just because someone was wise in one aspect of life, they are automatically wise in all aspects of life. I'll call that the Gates/Zuckerberg/Musk paradox.
Of all the hustles and bustles we have currently in the world, you are right, its impossible for somebody to do something about it. With regards to that, still we can make a difference within ourselves.
Funny you should post this right now. I was just criticized on another forum for pointing out a deviation in the leadership of a community I am part of. The rules are clearly laid out but a group of people have taken power and do whatever they want. Somehow they have become above the law. So I am speaking out about this and am being criticized by fellow peons that I should just mind my own business. I will only cause problems and I it won't make me happy. Isn't this typical? Sit down, don't make waves while the boat heads for the breakers. I have no intention of shutting up. As a matter of fact I will speak up even more loudly. :>)
This is an excellent piece, @rok-sivante, and precisely so because you raise some very pertinent questions about acting in the world. There are, however, some important misconceptions about Taoist philosophy which have much to do with how the text is interpreted.
Take for example the lines "to do nothing." This does not mean - as is commonly interpreted by those who do not understand the context of the age - to be a passive observer and to simply allow events to unfold.
It means to not act from the position of an isolated, separated ego; but rather as an entity fully engaged with reality as it unfolds. To be fully engaged and fully immersed means to have entered the silence between thoughts and to position oneself from this heightened perspective.
In this way there is no mental buffer between oneself and reality as it unfolds. No thought-cage which blocks incoming perceptions. Thinking hinders full receptivity. To invoke science at this point we can say:
"Of the 400 billion bits of information per second that reach the brain, only 2,000 bits are utilized."
We must understand that the I Ching and Tao Te Ching were all written by entities who by default existed in Zen-mind (thoughtlessness, and absolute mental calm.) Nobody would have accepted these texts as credible if this were not a prerequisite.
With total mental silence more bits of information can be processed. A great symbolic representation of this is the movie "Limitless".* A pill allows the ingester to make full use of all the variables in his/her environment so to act in the best possible way in which to achieve the desired outcome.*
This encapsulates Zen-mind, and makes sense of the phrase " to do nothing."
You're doing 'nothing' because you are fully a part of the equation which is the reality of the moment. So, you are neither resisting nor separating yourself out from the flow but rather you are congruent in your movements and are capable of affecting the ultimate change.
This is known as "skillful action." Hence, it appears as if you are doing nothing because you are not discordant in your actions. But it does not translate to sitting still and fluttering your eyelids in calm repose as someone lunges at you with a samurai sword LOL. When your mind is calm then you will know how to act with each unfolding moment in a way that the Tao flows through you. The Tao cannot flow through a cluttered mind.
"Allowing the world to unfold as it will..." Does not translate to stepping back to allow it all to run its course. You are already part of the world by the fact of your presence. Even you attempting to minimize your interference will still affect the flow of events There is no escaping this fact. And it has been proven through countless experiments. As a passive observer you are still part of the equation as it unfolds.
So, these ancient texts are NOT advising that you remain at the minimal level of engagement as you go through life - that would be imbecilic.
They are, in fact, advising the very opposite: that you intensify your involvement in reality as it unfolds by shutting your mind up and allowing all of your bodily intelligence to open up in an embrace of the totality of the moment so that when you feel the urge to act (which you will) you will act in the most appropriate manner.
daaaaaaang.
you forgot the "mic drop."
this is probably the best comment I've gotten on any of my posts, ever. DEEP. amazing. wow. respects.
Cheers Rok :)
I find it really interesting how thematically I am seeing so many of us on the same page and we can be talking about different things, but it all relates to the same overall theme. I am noticing this more and more every day. I will see like 3 or 4 posts come up around the same time all in relation to a theme and will we all be talking about something totally different or a vastly different perspective of the same thing. It reaffirms the law of attraction for me, clearly we exist in complementary realities. Thanks for sharing :)
I see the assumption that wisdom comes with age all the time. Maybe people want to believe that someone older than them has the answers?
You also see the belief that just because someone was wise in one aspect of life, they are automatically wise in all aspects of life. I'll call that the Gates/Zuckerberg/Musk paradox.
Wisdom does not come with age.
Good post. Thanks.
Points! for balance...
Re-find the refined wu wei zen...
Of all the hustles and bustles we have currently in the world, you are right, its impossible for somebody to do something about it. With regards to that, still we can make a difference within ourselves.
Funny you should post this right now. I was just criticized on another forum for pointing out a deviation in the leadership of a community I am part of. The rules are clearly laid out but a group of people have taken power and do whatever they want. Somehow they have become above the law. So I am speaking out about this and am being criticized by fellow peons that I should just mind my own business. I will only cause problems and I it won't make me happy. Isn't this typical? Sit down, don't make waves while the boat heads for the breakers. I have no intention of shutting up. As a matter of fact I will speak up even more loudly. :>)
Good post. Wisdom doesn' t come with age and in some it may not show up at all. Not many, if any, are wise in all things.