Wu Wei

Wu Wei is central principle in Taoism translated as “non-doing”. It doesn’t refer to non-doing in the sense of sloth and laziness but instead refers to a deep level of connectedness with the world. Another way of thinking of wu wei, is “action of non-action”, think of the go with the flow nature of water in a river effortlessly navigating through rocks and obstacles in its path. Without even trying, the water is able to respond to any situation that arises.

Wu wei encapsulates the state of mind I was in during my recent travels. I wasn’t doing anything in a productive sense but I was non-doing, I was in a state of wu wei without feelings of anxiety or tension but openness and awareness.