Time To Save
Most elderly people when asked about their life regrets will always say they wished they spent their time doing what was important; and it wasn’t worrying about money and comfort items, but spending time with loved ones…
The Dalai Lama was asked what he thought was the most perplexing thing about life and he said; “Man. Because he sacrifices his health in order to make money. Then he sacrifices money to recuperate his health. And then he is so anxious about the future that he does not enjoy the present; the result being that he does not live in the present or the future; he lives as if he is never going to die, and then dies having never really lived.”
It is a school of thought that contradicts the Plutonian logic, that action and effort create a desired outcome, The Dao encourages a passive and natural approach to achieving our goals. Losing the restrictions of time and institution, rigidity and force, the Dao weaves a therapeutic path to success through flow, agility and surrender.
The Dao which is the school of philosophy also was known as the Tao was invented by Chinese philosopher Lao Tzu, 2500 years ago. Fundamental to the Dao is the concept of Wu Wei, which translates to, doing nothing, or the art of doing nothing. Wu Wei isn’t an invitation to do nothing, rather it means action without effort.
The practice of Wu Wei is to make our process and actions as natural and effortless as possible, so we are flowing with, rather than against the current. This working in natural accordance with life means we feel more at peace and find more joy in what is happening right in front of us.
Wu Your Wei
To learn the art of doing nothing and doing it well you can put aside 15 minutes each day and tune into the sounds and sensations of the body and your surroundings and do nothing. Just listen, feel, observe and breath, letting the chatter of the mind and its incessant need to name things, compare things and make you hurry exist without following the temptation to act.
“to the mind that is still the whole universe surrenders “
Lao Tzu
Guest Contributor: Emily Rack
Business Name: Horatio’s Jar
Publisher: Digital Schools
Emily Rack is a yoga teacher, meditation instructor and freelance writer. She runs yoga and meditation classes, courses and workshops in schools and the wider community & is passionate about teaching the art of mindfulness
