Wu Wei

[ChristopherSea]

More of a description to understand the Taoist concept of Wu Wei than a real poem, however it is meant to be a poem in similar form to a particular style of verse in the Tao Te Ching.

The Eyes see without seeing.
The Ears hear without hearing.
The Tongue tastes without tasting, the Nose smells without smelling. Just as the Skin feels without feeling.

Wu Wei

The Heart beats without beating as the Lungs breath without breathing. Just as Life lives without living.

Water flows without flowing and Grass grows without growing. Just as Stars shine without shining.

Wu Wei

Do without doing and Act without acting.
Simply. Be without being.

朴子

I understand that achieving action through nonaction is incorporated into the concept of Wu Wei and is a significant component of the Tao Te Ching. I think where this poem fails is in the repetition of a single statement with numerous examples in an 'unpoetic' fashion. If one does not except that you can 'see' an object with your eyes closed, than the idea comes off as nonsense and reiterating it over and over will only make it worse. However, if you had said it in the manner that I just did (seeing without looking), you could have conveyed a concept to the reader. The Tao Te Ching is effective and poetic, as the excerpt below illustrates:

In pursuing one’s studies
something’s added each day.
In practicing the Way
something’s subtracted each day.

It grows less and less
until one reaches non-action.
When one reaches non-action
nothing is left undone.

It’s always through not interfering
that one can control the realm.
Whoever loves to interfere
will never control the people.

This would be accepted as both poetry and a lesson within the discipline. I also have some Tao poetry that I might post on this site.

Cheers/Chris