This is a significant stage in a student’s spiritual development. The following are some signs that one is experiencing this level of realization:
1. Mindfulness becomes consistent. The loss of mindfulness is immediately felt, which automatically triggers the arising of a new moment of mindfulness. It can be said that “falling asleep wakes us up.”
2. One no longer holds to any of his or her beliefs, disbeliefs and points of view as being absolutely true.
3. There is a realization that the way we experience life is a reflection of our perceptions rather than a direct result of our circumstances.
4. There is a recognition that nothing actually exists beyond our perception of it. We have no home, no significant other, no children, no bank account, and so forth. They are all just stories in the mind. The only reality, on a relative level, is the present object of one’s consciousness.
5. One realizes how the mind and body functions without the necessity of a self being in control.
6. Loving-kindness and compassion arise more frequently and without conscious effort.
7. There is an understanding that we do not know anything other than what unfolds in each present moment.
8. The commitment to living from spiritual truth is unwavering, no matter what is experienced through one’s circumstances or within one’s mind.
9. Life is becoming effortless and the student observes the cycles of life from a more objective perspective.
Living effortlessly means living outside of time in the present moment. It is to live an integrated life where we no longer divide our lives into segments such as work time, family time, play time and time for personal or spiritual development.
For most students an essential paradox will still remain. How can one intentionally make an effort to live without effort? On the one hand, if we adopt a hands-off attitude towards our life it feels like we are being fatalistic and that we have no influence on how our lives will unfold. On the other hand, if we make an effort it seems that we are trying to control the outcome of our lives according to what our mind wants to have happen.
This is where the Taoist principle of wu wei comes in. The literal meaning is “non-action” or “without action.” This does not indicate passively doing nothing, but rather doing everything effortlessly. Our life becomes like a shadow being cast upon a landscape without stirring any dust. It is flowing along with our life as easily as a stream flows down the mountainside. It is simply cooperating with how our lives are naturally unfolding from moment to moment.
Wu wei is an overarching philosophy towards life and living. It means aligning ourselves with the flow of our life, knowing when to act and when not to act. It is listening to the truth of each moment and acting without being influenced by our past conditioning or by our attachment to future outcomes.
The universe acts harmoniously and it is important not to disrupt that harmony. We simply remain alert and obey the rules of the “Way.” We realize when and how to act in order to effortlessly flow along with the natural rhythm of our lives.
Says the Tao:
Who can wait quietly while the mud settles?
Who can remain still until the moment of action?
Observers of the Tao do not seek fulfillment.
Not seeking fulfillment, they are not swayed by desire for change.
It is difficult to describe “how” to live effortlessly, but we can describe how to know when you are not. If you are feeling stressed and confused as to how to respond to a given situation, or if you feel a contraction in the body or reactivity in the mind, these are signs that you are out of the flow. At that point stop and listen to your body and mind.
Open to any contraction in the body and allow it to dissipate. Observe the reactivity in the mind and allow the experience to “self-liberate.” Then remain quiet until you intuitively sense what the next action needs to be.
It may sound like this process would take time and become a hindrance more than a help. In actuality, it can all take place in moments.
You will know that you are again acting effortlessly when you feel that whatever happens or doesn’t happen is fine, and you are not experiencing any resistance, attachment, anticipations or expectations.
Because there is no identification with being the doer or with the belief that we are in control of how our life, all ideas of failure and success are absent from the mind. The undivided mind is free of tension and each moment is lived completely. There is a deep sense of fulfillment and of being in harmony with the whole of one’s life.
A Taoist Story and commentary:
Chu’I the draftsman could draw more perfect circles freehand than with a compass. His fingers brought forth spontaneous forms from nowhere. His mind was meanwhile free and without concern with what he was doing. No application was needed; his mind was perfectly simple and knew no obstacle. So, when the shoe fits, the foot is forgotten; when the belt fits, the belly is forgotten; and when the heart is right, “for” and “against” are forgotten.
No drives, no compulsions, no needs, no attractions: then your affairs are under control. You are a free person. Easy is right. Begin right and you are easy. Continue easy and you are right. The right way to go easy is to forget the right way and forget that the going is easy.
This is a story about effortlessness. What is achieved by effort often times becomes a burden. It creates conflict and inner tension since it has to be intentionally maintained continuously.
Chu’I the draftsman could draw more perfect circles freehand than with a compass.
In nature circles exist everywhere. Circles illustrate the natural cycle of life. Most of us need a compass in life: morality; rules; principles; spiritual texts and so forth since we are not in accord with the Tao. Chu’l needed no such compass.
We feel the need to plan, to organize, to impress others as well as ourselves with our accomplishments. We are “self” conscious which prevents us from being spontaneous and moving with the rhythms of life.
His fingers brought forth spontaneous forms from nowhere. His mind was meanwhile free and without concern with what he was doing. No application was needed; his mind was perfectly simple and knew no obstacle.
From “nowhere” means from emptiness, the Tao, or the ground of being. It was not him that drew the circles but life was moving through and as him. Therefore all was done without concern.
So, when the shoe fits, the foot is forgotten; when the belt fits, the belly is forgotten; and when the heart is right, “for” and “against” are forgotten.
When we are healthy the body is forgotten. Without a headache the head is forgotten. A person of Tao is not concerned with being somebody so the self is forgotten.
If you make any distinction, if you believe that any state of mind is right or wrong, better or worse, life becomes a struggle to make the mind perfect. Once such a distinction is made there will be conflict. By being for something we are automatically against something else. A person who is split cannot be natural. Nature exists in harmony without conflict.
When our energies are no longer divided we experience unity; the Tao. In the Tao the “heart is right” and all conflict is forgotten or identification with that conflict is left behind.
No drives, no compulsions, no needs, no attractions: then your affairs are under control. You are a free man.
Only a person who is no longer driven by compulsive obsessions or pleasant sense experiences can realize freedom. By non-engaged witnessing with the whole of our being, all conflict drops and the Tao is realized.
Easy is right. Begin right and you are easy. Continue easy and you are right.
For most people the difficult seems right because it gives the mind a challenge and one’s senses are excited. With “difficult” the ego or sense of self wants to feel fulfilled.
With the “easy” there is no pride of achievement. Living without conflict or pride and going with the flow of life, the easy, enables the realization of unity and the Tao to emerge.
So we begin right by letting go of all tension; we stop fighting life. What is right for you is not right for anyone else. We live in such a way that life continues to be easy. We don’t even swim with the current. We merely float with what is unfolding. Others may not understand you, but your life becomes fun and your heart will sing with joy.
The right way to go easy is to forget the right way and forget that the going is easy.
Such a subtle teaching! We need to be careful not to make “easy” into a philosophy or belief system that makes you constantly question whether you are going the “easy way.” Otherwise, we will become attached to trying to find the easy way. Just forget the idea and “be” easy. And the easiness will affect the entire climate of your life and all whom your life touches.
One can achieve in the world through effort but one cannot realize the ultimate through effort. Can anyone improve upon a rose? Everything moves and grows on its own. Let life flow on its own without making effort and you will be in accord with the Tao.
Here is a practice paradox - for this next week, live effortlessly!
Open to that space of presence watching your life unfold, and flow along with whatever arises. This is a very important perspective at this stage of spiritual development.