Westerners find it incomprehensible that Taoism doesn’t call for specific rituals, ceremonies or observances. It doesn’t even call for a specific lifestyle or external sign. Furthermore, there is no uniform to wear and no church to visit on Sundays.
However, Taoist practitioners can easily identify each other by their behaviour. When they see how others deal with errors, criticism, constraints or setbacks, they can easily pinpoint who subscribes to Lao-Tzu’s ideas.
Why do the uninitiated find it difficult to identify Taoists at first sight? Because they do not know what to expect. They are still unfamiliar with the patterns of behaviour favoured by the Tao Te Chin and by the writings of Yang-Tzu and Chuang-Tzu.
Whenever I hear a remark about the invisibility of Taoists, I reply that I do not agree. Taoists are extremely visible, but only to individuals who are familiar with the Tao Te Ching and the non-action principle.
A gentle approach
The Taoist non-action principle is called Wu Wei and makes Taoist practitioners easy to identify. Why? Because Wu Wei is strikingly different from other philosophies, religions or belief systems.
Instead of prompting people to take action at any cost, Wu Wei favours prudence and critical thinking. Instead of fuelling our ambitions no matter what, Wu Wei acknowledges the fact that no one is omniscient. In chaotic situations, it’s often better to take a step back and assess our alternatives calmly.
Lao-Tzu categorized the Taoist mentality as gentle, smooth, and soft. He compared wise individuals with water because of their method for dealing with obstacles. Instead of fighting a bitter war, they’ll prefer to circumvent, undermine or dissolve the obstacles.
Compared to other philosophies or religions, Taoism should be categorized as effortless. The main goal of its practitioners is to align their actions with natural law, so that they deliver a good result.
Taoists view natural law as an ally, not as a master that tells them what to do and expects blind obedience. By aligning our actions with the Tao, we increase our chances of good health, success and happiness.
In any case, we remain free to do as we wish. If we choose to oppose the Tao, we’ll inevitably face negative consequences, but those can teach us valuable lessons for the future.
Avoiding friction
None of us is going to make all the right choices in life, but Taoism rests on the assumption that, if we strive for alignment with the Tao, we will get most of the key choices right, and our life will run as smoothly and effortlessly as humanly possible.
Desiderius Erasmus (1468-1536) observed that friction in human relations tends to generate additional friction, conflicts, and maybe war. Taoism favours the opposite mentality, that is, a smooth, effortless, gentle approach in all interactions.
When Taoism is applied in daily life, we see peacefulness in all human exchanges. Artisans ply their trades, merchants sell their wares, and people come and go freely. If disagreements arise, those are settled quickly and inexpensively.
Ancient Romans like Julius Caesar (100-44 BC) believed in constant preparation for war as a necessity. In contrast, Taoists regard such a mentality as a recipe for disaster. If they identify someone as prone to violence, they will avoid that person like the pest because, sooner or later, violence will erupt.
Taoist expect to achieve happiness by doing what needs to be done, and by avoiding the undesirable, the risky, the chaotic and the aggressive. Their effortlessness consists of preventing trouble upstream, so that the water can stay calm downstream.
Chapter 9 of the Tao Te Ching warns us against doing too much. Overwork can ruin the quality of our output in the same way that excessive effort can hurt our muscles. Unreasonable efforts are irrational and counterproductive.
Lao-Tzu uses a knife and a cup as examples. If we sharpen the knife’s blade too much, chances are that we will damage it; and if we fill our cup over the brim, the liquid will spill on the floor. Not only will the floor become dirty, but someone might slip, fall down, and get injured.
Harmony fosters effectiveness
For Taoists, effortlessness goes along with harmony. A soft approach prevents friction, avoids conflicts, and cements social harmony. When a situation gets hot, Wu Wei calls for stepping back and taking a deep breath.
The Taoist mentality revolves around getting things done in a smooth manner. Mistakes should be avoided or minimized by thinking things through. Waste should be prevented by figuring out in advance how to do things efficiently and inexpensively.
In one of his stories, Chuang-Tzu praised the skill of cook Ding, who was able to carve an oxen effortlessly just by using a knife. The cook had been doing so for years, always using the same knife and never damaging the blade.
How had cook Ding achieved such a high productivity? His secret was effortlessness. He used his knife expertly and softly, steering away from tension. He had figured out how to carve oxen in a soft, steady manner, following their bodily structure.
Let us learn this important Taoist lesson and keep excessive stress at bay. If we have important goals in life, the fastest way to achieve them is by staying healthy and advancing each day a little bit, without overexerting ourselves.
Wise individuals, says Chapter 73 of the Tao Te Ching, do not hurry, but will still achieve their goals in time. We should internalise this exhortation as never walking faster than we can sustain in the long term. Let us work and live effortlessly, and trust that natural law will help us reach our chosen destination.
If you are interested in putting effective insights into daily practice, I recommend my book titled “Rational living, rational working.”