ChiDragon

Chapter 1 1. 道可道，非常道。 2. 名可名，非常名。 3. 無,名天地之始。 4. 有,名萬物之母。 5. 故常無,欲以觀其妙。 6. 常有,欲以觀其徼。 7. 此兩者同出而異名， 8. 同謂之玄。玄之又玄， 9. 眾妙之門。 Revised as of 2/27/12 1. Tao that can be spoken is not the eternal Tao. 2. A name that can be named is not an eternal name. 3. Invisible(Wu) was the name given to Tao at the origin of heaven and earth. 4. Visible(You) was the name given to Tao as the mother of all things. 5. Hence, when Tao is always invisible(wu), one would grok its quale. 6. When Tao is always visible(you), one would observe its boundary. 7. These two come from one origin but differ in name, 8. Both are regarded as unfathomable; the most occult and profound; 9. The gate of all changes. Michael..... Here is an good example how LoaTze was using Wu and You to represent the two states of Tao's presence. "Wu" is the invisible state of Tao; and "You" as the state of visible. In lines 3 and 4, Wu and You were used as proper nouns. In lines 5 and 6, wu and you were used as adjectives.

Don't you classify running, stretching, even lifting some weights as external practice....???

The way this thread was presented, it cannot lead into the concept of Wu Wei. The term "Wu_action" has already leading us to step with the wrong foot. I do agree with the Wu-state if only we are talking about Chapter 1. However, the Wu-wisdom and Wu-desire do not have the equal significant value as Wu Wei has. Wu Wei is the fundamental philosophy of the Tao Te Ching. The Wu-wisdom and Wu-desire are merely examples suggested by LoaTze to advise the rulers how to execute the concept of Wu Wei for ruling their people. The term Wu Wei is a philosophy not any kind of action. It is not advisable to combine non essential notions with the main concept of Wu Wei. PS... We need a new thread to discuss Wu Wei alone to avoid any distraction.

So, one can integrate oneself with the Universe to absorb the uni-chi for living naturally and die of natural cause...

I was going to save this for last because once we understand Wu Wei is first. Then, we will have no problem with Wei Wu Wei. Since you asked, here is the time to get it right. The character 為(wei) has two tones, wéi and wèi. wéi: for wèi: intended action wéi wu wèi is for Wu Wei. If we can understand what Wu Wei is, then we'll know that we are studying the Tao Te Ching was for Wu Wei.

Sorry, this is not yes and no. It is either yes or no. No multiple answers....Sorry again. "Wu" is not consistent throughout the TaoTeChing. Each "Wu" in some chapters has different meaning from one another. LaoTze has a unique way of using "Wu" to express himself. Wu by itself is something else than Wu Wei. "Wu Wei" by itself is different from Wu and Wei. Wu Wei is a term which patented by LoaTze so to speak. We must interpret the TTC by his meaning of the term rather than ours. It is because he wrote the TTC not us.

3rd - external exercise 4th - bring intent OUT OF lower dan tien to reduce energy.

"Unnatural action" is not the basic linguistic definition for the COMPOUND characters. However, "unnatural action" is where the Tao Te Ching goes into. That was the original thought of LaoTZe. His whole idea was based on to avoid "unnatural action". By his definition of Wu Wei is to be natural, "intended no unnatural action." As I had said before, Wu Wei is "to take no abusive action" BTW This is not my idea, my interpretation was originated from the explanation of the knowledgeable native scholars. Please do not assign any credit to my name....

To begin with, let's look at the meanings of the characters 無(wu), 為(wei) and 無為(wu wei) in the Chinese language. 1. 無(wu): not; none; non; without, doesn't have; 無(wu) is a negative word, if it was put in font of any character, it will negate the meaning of the trailing character. 2. 為(wei): intended action FYI Each characters has its basic meaning(s) individually. However, when they were put into context, the original meaning may or may be no changed. Those who do not read Chinese might not know when two characters were compounded; the initial meaning of the characters may be changed completely. Indeed, the compound characters become a special term and has a complete different meaning. 3. In the case of wu wei.... Wu Wei: no intended action, nothing has been accomplished; nothing was done; do nothing This is only the ordinary usage of the character in daily life of the common people. However, LaoTze use the term in a special way because his wisdom was out of the ordinary. He has his own meaning of Wu Wei. In order to understand what it means, one must study the Tao Te Ching to find out its actual meaning. By looking the term and breaking down the character, and do a separate interpretation of the characters was a mistake and how less one knows. What I am saying was that we should interpret the term of Wu Wei as a whole instead of interpreting the superficial meaning of each character. What that does it will only create somebody's misinterpretation; but not LaoTze's original philosophical meaning. BTW If it is so simple by looking at the characters of Wu Wei to make some erroneous assumptions about the philosophy of LaoTze, then why did LaoTze need to write eighty-one chapter to explain what Wu Wei is in his Tao Te Ching. If we, the modern people, by interpreting Wu Wei as "without action", then that would be a great insult to the wisdom of LaoTze and his philosophy. After all, LaoTze didn't write the Tao Te Ching for nothing.

You just took the words right out of my mouth...... @Aaron.... I had been explaining what Wu Wei was to you from forum to forum, thread to thread. Now, you are asking me for proof....

Aaron... It is not the way I want to translate it. I was only translating the interpretation of the knowledgeable scholars. I just gather information from a received copy of the Tao Ta Ching based on the consensus for the most accuracy. PS... I only used native sources that are written in Chinese. Any mistake in the translation into English that would be made by me. PPS... All my translation are done in the Tao Te Ching Section. And my explanation about Wu Wei was done based on the interpretations of those native scholars. They are not my own interpretation. I only study it and try to tell the people in the western world to make the correction.

How long had you been doing this so-called KSMO.....??? That might be the culprit that was causing you the so-called sexual blockages or issues.

Gladly...!!! This would require a new long thread. It shall be done in the near future....

This is only your opinion. I don't think you know what wu wei was from the beginning.

That was not a good assumption. It is worse for those who spoke English fluently because they had outside influence which effected their thinking. Besides, they may not understand classic Chinese fluently anyway. Sometimes they want their books to be the bestseller and make it to fit the taste of the westerners.

You are right. Any native Chinese would agree with that; but let's leave meditation out of this thread for now.

Maybe it was your neighbors were doing some BBQ with mustique wood.

To begin with the character, 為(wei) in the Chinese language, there are more than one meaning than just "action". In the west, it seems to me "action" is the only meaning that was known of. If the non-Chinese do not realize that, then there is no way they will ever understand the term "Wu Wei". It is not what we want it to be meant. Since it has a unique meaning in the Tao Te Ching, it was meant to be follow the chapters in the TTC to figure out what it meant by LaoTze. LaoTze likes to use the dyad of Wu and You to express his thoughts in many ways. He uses Wu to express many things in many different way. If you use the same definition to interpret throughout the Tao Te Ching, then it would be a big mistake and started with the wrong foot.

Wu-sound 五(wu)音: Five sounds Wu Wei 無(wu)為 The phonetic of Wu in each term are two different characters. PS..... Marblehead... Can you start a new thread on this....??? Thanks. PPS.... To be honest, I don't like his(Wayne L. Wang) presentation already.... And I don't like the OP neither....:(

Nei Kung is just a general term for internal practice. Please go find out what nei kung is all about before looking for a system.

This was my original answer but I was not brave enough to say it.....

Stosh..... I don't know have I said this to you or not...!!! You are a gentleman and a scholar......

I do understand we have some basic knowledge of the Tao Te Ching. As long we have the basic fundamentals in common, there is no argument about that. Thus we just apply the principle or thinking differently. Thanks....

It is the truth of the consensus which is the most reasonable and logical truth.

Yes, you are right about that for the thinking of most people. However, a Taoist always thought that oneself is integrated with Nature and sharing the energy with all. A Taoist is no different from a boy, girl, man, woman, young or elder. A Taoist is just an individual who is following with the principles of Yin-Yang to stay in balance.