THE WU WAY

Wu-wei is the Taoist expression for the power of positive not-thinking.

It is the action in non-action, the knowing in not-knowing, the something in nothing, the doing in not-doing. Wu-wei is the strength of a willow in a wind storm, the resistance in yielding.

It is t'ai chi. Wu-wei is following the way of water, the way of wind. It is not the absence of action, but it is the absence of trying. Wind is never still, but it has no intention. Water ever seeks its own level, but not on purpose.

Wu-wei: The balance point of being and doing.


THE POOH WAY

Literally, Wu Wei means "without doing, causing, or making." But practically speaking, it means without meddlesome, combative, or egotistical effort. It seems rather significant that the character Wei developed from the symbols for a clawing hand and a monkey, since the term Wu Wei means no going against the nature of things; no clever tampering; no Monkeying Around.

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.

from The Tao of Pooh by Benjamin Hoff