Effortless Action (Teachings of the Tao Te Ching)

What is effortless action?

There are times in life when everything seems to flow by. One good experience after the other. A seemingly endless stream of positive and empowering experiences. The travelling lifestyle or University days seem to embody this sense of flow. During these episodes, it tends to be easy to have far-out conversations, or to explore spirituality.

You can often look back favourably on certain periods of your life. Especially when you have recently met a new love interest. Or had the luck to go on an extended vacation. In the midst of these times, events roll over you. You seem more adept at managing situations. Often you operate at your peak, and others recognize this. You get the most out of life and the most out of other people. Nothing feels like hard work. Day-to-day actions are almost effortless.

The problem is that life is long. Favourable conditions such as the above are short. This post is about developing a state of ‘effortless action’ in times when external conditions are not so good. When your work is stressful. When your partner is difficult and when life seems bleaker than those happy days. In this post, you will see excerpts from the Tao Te Ching. Not going to lie, it’s a tricky read! But by the end you will have some insight into interpreting it.

Teaching Without Words

In the Tao Te Ching, Lao Tzu mentions ‘sages’ many times. A sage is a wise person. One considered to be well-informed by others, respected, venerated. Not everyone aims to be a sage. You could say in the Western World we have even lost the concept. It has been replaced by the term guru. Lao Tzu describes personal aspects that sages have to be desirable. To be sage-like according to Lao Tzu is to live well. Early in the text, you can see Lao Tzu says sages practice nonaction. This is synonymous with effortless action as described above.

‘This is why sages abide in the business of nonaction,
And practice teaching that is without words.’

-Tao Te Ching, Chapter 2

Practising teaching without words is a verbal puzzle. One typical of the Tao Te Ching. You could say that it means to ‘lead by example’. To teach others not with your words, but with your actions. That others may see what you do in the world and learn from this. Achieving a state of effortless action in your own life is beneficial. It can also serve as a beacon to others.

You know when you are proud of what you’ve done and what you’ve achieved. By the time you reach adulthood you have a pretty good handle on this. You learn what behaviours are favourable. Also, those that are outright wrong, and the grey area in between. Becoming sage-like then is gaining a deep learning of the difference. You can then work towards clearing any need for the grey area.

Nonjudgmental

To keep up a cheery demeanour in the face of life’s frustrations is a sign of a strong character. The lines which immediately follow the above in the Tao Te Ching relate to working with the forces of life;

‘They work with the myriad creatures and turn none away.
They produce without possessing.’

-Tao Te Ching, Chapter 2

Here, the Tao Te Ching is telling you that sages are industrious. They work with all living and non-living forms. The ‘myriad creatures’ for Lao Tzu may have involved spirits. Not just spirits, but other mystical forces. A modern day reading would be to accept events. You have little control over the wide range of possible things that can occur.

‘Producing without possessing’ relates to sages knowing their craft. They are trusting in themselves, confident. They know that they are enough on their own to deal with whatever life throws at them. The message here is to trust in yourself. Have confidence in your decisions. Most importantly, do not judge the world for sub-optimal states.

Present Focused

A lot is said about living in the present. Countless authors write volumes on breathing exercises and meditations. Much literature exists on focusing the mind in the present moment. There’s no need to go over that ground. Yet it is worth saying that effortless action requires present focus. Talking about sages, The Tao Te Ching says;

‘They act with no expectation of reward.
When their work is done, they do not linger.’

-Tao Te Ching, Chapter 2

These two lines relate to focusing on the present. There is no proposal of the benefits present actions will produce. Meanwhile, ‘not lingering’ is a reference to the need to keep moving. Keeping high energy, moving from one project to another. In life, it is worth having projects and past-times that you can always escape to. Time itself becomes more and more scarce as commitments grow. Yet you should make time for yourself and your own interests every day.

Staying Stable

To do all the above is good, but it is not enough. You don’t want to get caught up in life. For some people, there’s a risk of losing one’s grip on reality. Too good a time may result in you losing your edge. Whilst too hard a time may result in you getting stressed or emotional. In the Tao Te Ching you can find this caution in a later chapter;

‘Comprehending all within the four directions, can you reside in nonaction?’

-Tao Te Ching, Chapter 10

This asks if you can achieve great insight and stay firm. I think finding a source of stability in life is paramount. More important than all the other aspects outlined. Experiencing the state of effortless action can be a great thing. But it needs to be sustainable. It is possible a source of stability could be an interest. Such as an ongoing passion, a hobby or devotion. More likely though it will be a foundational person. A person with a balancing effect on your self.

Drawing from the Tao Te Ching

This post has talked about the life experience of effortless action. To achieve effortless action may require you to lead by example. Yet, that doesn’t mean you need to actually be leading anything. Rather, you should be sure of yourself and your actions. You’ve also seen the need to be non-judgmental of the world and life events.

The final point is seek other people who may keep you stable when you need it. Nobody is an island. Even the most solitary people require input from others in their lives. Overall, these are just a few excerpts and one interpretation. I hope you’ve found this post helpful!