There is always something we don't know. This is well illustrated by the elusive qualities of energy in physics: We cannot really define energy, but we can work with it, and this is the case with the Tao. The Tao works by itself. Its nature is to be, as is said in Chinese, tzu-jan, that which is "of itself," "by itself," or "itself so." Tzu-jan is almost what we mean when we say that something is automatic, or that something happens automatically.
~ Alan Watts in What is Tao?~
When the concept of tzu-jan is combined with the concept of wu wei, what we end up with is going with the flow by and of itself. That, in a manner of speaking, goes hand in hand with today's verse from the TTC.
It's when we allow ourselves not to over think or over analyze a given situation that we can come to know it via tzu-jan and wu wei. These are the time when, like an athlete or an artist, we find ourselves in the zone. We simply react or create without consciously thinking about it. We flow with the situation and do what only is necessary to accomplish the task without any excessive movement or wasted breath.
It's when we allow ourselves not to over think or over analyze a given situation that we can come to know it via tzu-jan and wu wei. These are the time when, like an athlete or an artist, we find ourselves in the zone. We simply react or create without consciously thinking about it. We flow with the situation and do what only is necessary to accomplish the task without any excessive movement or wasted breath.
Good old Alan :)
ReplyDelete: ) back at ya!
ReplyDeleteThanks for this. Am writing about the emergence of Chi from Wu Chi. Was looking for a concept that expresses the idea of spontanious arising. this did the trick.
ReplyDeleteI would add...
ReplyDeleteTzu-jan is spontaneous, unpremeditated, unconditioned living in accord with the Tao. Tzu-jan is to live in accord with our authentic (p’u) nature, and to not interfere (wu-wei) with the authentic nature of others.
Alan Errata: Energy HAS been defined in physics as the ability to do work (force x distance.) Ironically, "watt" is a measure of the rate of work done.
I've always translated tao te tzu-jan as "tao's principle is spontaneity." There are many other ways of saying it but that works for me.
ReplyDeleteWell, yes. But what is "force?" I think Watt's is right in that he "gets" the essentially mysterious nature of reality.
ReplyDeleteshouldn't you be using ideograms to ensure unambiguity?
ReplyDeleteJust came across tzu Jan reading 'awakened cosmos' by David Hinton. I recommend this book. Followed the trail here, nice to meet you!
ReplyDelete