Comment by ElProlactin
3 days ago
Most people have experienced what 無為 speaks to without even knowing about the concept or trying to follow it.
That's the whole point. In fact, if you're trying too hard to achieve 無為, you defeat the purpose.
3 days ago
Most people have experienced what 無為 speaks to without even knowing about the concept or trying to follow it.
That's the whole point. In fact, if you're trying too hard to achieve 無為, you defeat the purpose.
Exactly my point
> Most people
I could say "most people" are also unsatisfied. We follow what is given to us and at some point, usually near mid-age people are sick of it and try to find another way...others just keep on keeping on; some satisfied, some pretending to be -- we really can't know, but given the age of my circle, I find it's a lot of pretending. So it may look like they found 無為 without knowing or searching, but overcoming that part that was given to us thats says they should be happy because where they are turns out to be another mask.
On a smaller scale I have seen the realization of that, then the search through western self-help (or religion) happens that ended up leading to 無為 without ever knowing it. Usually because at some point it pushes them over the "f-this edge". While not an observation of most people, they are patterns I keep coming across getting older.
I bring it up because sometimes we simply need to let others follow their own "self-help" (self-cultivation) path without interfering or telling them how they are doing it wrong. When you tell them they need 無為, and not their "self-help" books, and if they listen, then they focus on trying to achieve it. Which as you say, defeat(s) the purpose.