Do you agree with taoism philosophy of 'wu wei', don't act and let everything flow?

For the most part, yes. I think we should let natural processes happen the best we can. But everyone’s perception of “natural processes” is different, so it’s hard to gauge.

No, what if you’re in danger? Don’t you have the right to defend your life?

Yes, I do. Now can I follow this all the time? That’s a different matter all together…

YES!
Resistence is a negative force… Not much good can come of it.
Distraction/diversion can work effectivly if ones being is in danger.
My 2 ¥

Doing nothing does not mean taking no action.

Resistance is futile.

@seVen : What’s unnatural about defending yourself?

Seems like not much would get done…....

Wu wei means getting yourself, the actor, out of the way of the action. It’s the difference between giving step by step instructions to your legs on how to walk, and just letting the walking happen. Things get done alright, but without a doer.

@syz : What wouldn’t get done? Like @daloon said, it doesn’t mean taking no action. Side note: Always listen to smart men with nice ass-vatars.

lurve for “ass-vatar”

I live more by the Rush philosophy (the band, not the conservative maggot)- “When you choose not to decide, you still have made a choice.”

It certainly can be helpful at times (to get out of the way and let things flow), especially when life seems overwhelming.

A friend of mine gave me a copy of Wu Wei’s book on the I-Ching. (I Ching Readings and I Ching Life). And it was very new to me but very interesting and enlightening. It certainly helped me get through a difficult time.

wow check out your score already RPL!!!

@lynneblundell Yay for me!!!! (i think i spend too much time online..) I love this place! :)

The two aspects of the philosophy you describe conflict with one another; if one allows everything to flow naturally then humans will inevitably act as they are an element of said flow. Building bridges, developing technology, changing cultures, even causing great damage, this is an aspect of the flow as it is the way we naturally are.

@Nially_Bob I’m not sure if building bridges and causing damages can be regarded as the natural flow of things. Yes, that’s the way we ”unnaturally” are, we parted ways from nature probably since the industrial revolution on the 19th century. We get what we gave.

Yes, but not as if that’s the only ideal way to be in the world. It definitely needs to be balanced with being proactive in certain things* ... to the trick lies in where to expend the energy of doing that.

Wu wei, not that i practice it nearly as much as i should, allows for more energy to be spent where it’s more important… since you don’t spend too much going with the flow, unless of course, that means resisting your own flow in some other – possibly active – direction.

It’s really a good motivation to check our natural tendency to want to control what affects us, which otherwise can be kinda egoistical.

But there’s so many things which should not exist, toxins which have poisoned the river of life (tao), which unknowingly most of us allow to grow stronger and stronger as we become ‘infected’ by them and thus a part of its sway. We have a lot of natural tendencies to just go along with those, so we need conscious – intentional – action to reclaim ourselves and the culture/society/ecosystems we’re a part of.

That’s not a contradiction, btw – at least if you free yourself from either/or thinking-by-default & allow this-*and-that thinking to take its place next to either/or as possibilities of everything.

@Maldadpermanente If any other animal possessed our intelligence would they not act similarly? Do other entities (animals, elements etc) not cause damage or even build bridges (http://www.metacafe.com/watch/726398/ants_engineering_building_a_bridge_within_no_time/) also? We as a species basically act similarly to all entities, prioritising our own needs and affecting our surrounding environment accordingly, the surrounding environment of humans is likely affected on a seemingly larger scale than that of other animals due to our unique cognitive capabilities. For example when, for example, foxes eat too many of their prey (causing damage), they will begin to starve until the predator/prey equilibrium is retained but this does not apply to humans as we have developed farms and hospitals allowing our population to grow. This being a natural effect of our unique cognitive abilities.
I apologise if I appear pompous as this is not my intention, I have my doubts with concerns to this hypothesis but of those I have found and researched this seems the most probable.

Well in as much as we are part of the natural order we are a part of the flow of Tao and inseparable from it as are all things. The flow of Tao has a natural rhythm and order to it. To flow is not to be drawn along with out intent. Even a leaf can be drawn into the muddy depths of silt, rise to the rapids or meander along the banks and eddies of a river. There is a natural order as exhibited by all life. We often act as independent from its intent and produce non sustaining systems that can not regenerate quickly. Of course they will always balance eventually but like adding chemicals to a river, it may take centuries. The Tao will restore equilibrium always but our pool may be temporarily poisoned.
The idea is to act with congruity as part of the Tao and not separate players. Act but relinquish the actor.

@Nially_Bob No apologies, your comments are very welcomed. Maybe animals and other non-inteligent entities can cause damage with their behavior. The difference is that we humans are capable to cause damage on purpose and even against our own interests, that’s not a thing animals do. That’s why I wonder how intelligent beings fit in the normal flow of life when we can change the course of events so dramatically.

@SeventhSense Is it possible for us to act in concordance with the normal flow of life or will we always try to force it to fit our inmediate needs and wishes?

@Maldadpermanente
I think it’s akin to allowing for it rather than acting upon it. As one who would allow the flow of the river to assist him in spinning a wheel. Paddling against the waves is possible but surfing just makes more sense.
Likewise when we plan an activity building, bridge,etc. is it taking into account the Whole Picture or is it short sighted? Every praxis on earth is currently in turmoil from economies to ecologies and will eventually change or collapse because they do not consider the entire collective. It’s like a construction company who seals up the walls before the electrician can lay down the wiring or masons who cement over the plumbing before the toilet is installed. The workers are not acting in accord with one vision and as such will be at odds. And it’s not so much a doing as it is a non doing of the same old way. And the intricacies and complexities are so myriad as to defy comprehension by the small localized idea of mind and must join with others. And when all else fails there is a code written into the system which is bliss. Experience a state of bliss and all else will pale in comparison. We only need follow the bliss.

I used to think so, and then I saw a psychologist who said he thought I was passive-aggressive.