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Wu Wei
"unattached action," "action without action," "aligned in harmony with the Tao"
Tao Te Ching 68 and 69
leads without haste
fights without anger
overcomes without confrontation
He puts himself below
and brings out the highest in his men
This is the virtue of not confronting
of working with the abilities you have
of complying with the laws of Heaven
This is the ancient path that leads to perfection
The great warriors have a saying
“I dare not act as host
but would rather be a guest
I dare not advance an inch
but would rather retreat a foot”
So advance but do not use your feet
Seize but do not use your arms
Cut but do not use your sword
Fight but do not use your own power
There is no greater misfortune than
feeling
“I have an enemy”
For when “I” and “enemy” exist
together
there is no room left for my treasure
Thus, when two opponents meet
the one without an enemy
will surely triumph
Tao Te Ching 2:9-17, 47:1-8, and 34:1-11, 78:1-13
The softest things of the world
override the hardest things of the world
That which has no substance
Enters into that which has no openings
From this I know the benefits of unattached action
The teaching without words
The benefits of action without attachment (without action)
Are rarely matched in the world (43:1-8)
"Be still like a mountain and flow like a great river"
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"like water" of Nature