Tao of Not Trying: Alan Watts, Lao Tzu, B Wen

(After Skool) Taoism Founder Lao Tzu on Art of Not Trying

Care about what they all think, prisoner?

Wu wei (Chinese 無為, simplified Chinese 无为, Pinyin wúwéi) is a concept [popular in Zen Buddhism] from ancient Chinese philosophy that literally means "not-acting" or "non-doing," variously interpreted and translated as actionlessness, inaction, or effortless action [1, 2].

• Is it the "flow state" in Western psychology?

If I were Zen, would I thereby be a Taoist, too?

In Taoism, it denotes the nature of Tao, meaning that while the Tao (the way, path, or flow of nature) is the source of all existence and manifestation of all phenomena, its intrinsic formless essence is that it acts or moves in a silent, invisible, ineffable, often-unnoticed manner that may even seem motionless and effortless [3, 4, 5, 6, 7].

Accordingly, Taoists aspire to live their lives in alignment with such a harmonious state of free flowing and unforced activity.

In a political context, it also refers to an ideal form or principle of spontaneous and non-aggressive governance [8]. More

The Path of Least Resistance

(Benebell Wen) Ziran (The Taoist Path of Least Resistance)

Let nature reign and all will be well?

Ziran (Romanized tzu-jan) is a key concept in Taoism and East Asian Buddhism. It literally means "of its own" or "by itself" and therefore "naturally; natural; spontaneously; freely; in the course of events; of course; doubtlessly" [1, 2].

ETYMOLOGY: This Chinese word is a two-character compound of zì (自, "self," "oneself," "from," "since") and rán (然, "right," "correct," "so," "yes"), which is used as a -ran suffix marking adjectives or adverbs (roughly corresponding to English -ly).

What is the most intelligent response? Flow

According to the Shuo Wen lexicon, the character 自 zi means "nose" [one's nose, oneself when not interfered with by outside influences.] In Chinese culture, the nose (or zi) is a common metaphor for a person's own point of view [3]. More

Alan Watts, what's the Philosophy of the Tao?

Alan Watts – Philosophy of the Tao, Pt.1 | Flow, Balance, and the Course of Nature (full talk)

• Pantheon of Taoist Gods (Tao.org)

A decolonized intro to Taoism

(Benebell Wen) Taoism: A Decolonized Introduction

ZEN: Bodhidharma's 'Wake Up Sermon'

Bodhidarma (Hakuin Ekaku)

 

(Echoes of Lost Knowledge) The sermon that has awakened more minds than any other teaching in Zen Buddhism | Bodhidharma

"Bodhidharma" was a semi-legendary Indian Buddhist monk who lived during the 5th or 6th century CE [1]. He is traditionally credited as the transmitter of Chan (Zen) Buddhism to China and is regarded as its first Chinese patriarch [a]. He is also popularly regarded as the founder of Shaolin kung fu [2, 3, 4, 5], an idea popularized in the 20th century [4, 5, 2] but based on the 17th century Yijin Jing and the Taoist association of daoyin gymnastics with him. More

Taoist Genesis: Hidden origin of Universe

(Master Tao Alchemist)

How consciousness shapes the afterlife in Tibetan Buddhism

(Big Brain Wisdom) Dec. 4, 2025: Dive deeply into the profound teachings of the Bardo, the intermediate state, in this enlightening exploration of how thoughts shape reality after death.

How do thought become real after death? Let's uncover the intricate mechanisms that govern consciousness as it transitions from this life to the afterlife (the very next moment after death, the intermediary period before the next rebirth).

Discover how fear, desire, karma, and memory sculpt the post-death landscape, revealing the true power of awareness. Learn why mastery of the mind is essential for liberation and how the awakened navigate this ethereal realm.

Join this transformative journey that connects life and the mysteries of existence, and remember to like and share video.

OUTLINE

• 00:00:00 The threshold where thought becomes world
• 00:02:01 How the mind becomes the architect of entire realms
• 00:04:43 How thought solidifies into reality
• 00:07:38 The four forces shaping Bardo's reality
• 00:10:30 Why "souls" become trapped inside their own creations
• 00:13:13 The [dispassionate, unbiased] awareness that watches the dream
• 00:15:38 How the awakened move freely through the Bardo
• 00:18:19 When thought loses the power to bind

#Bardo #Afterlife #Consciousness #Awareness #Spirituality #Mindfulness #Rebirth #Mysticism #HigherSelf #InnerJourney #Enlightenment #SoulAwakening #Metaphysics #Transcendence #ancientwisdom

Patanjali, who created the Universe?

(Anand Universe Official)

Patanjali and the Yoga Sutras for union with the divine

 

"Yoga" is much more than poses and balance.

The Indian Sage Patanjali, author or compiler of the Yoga Sutras or "Aphorisms on Union" since they are not discourses (sutras) but rather terse sayings followed by brief explanations on the ultimate goal of Yoga ("Union").

All that we in the West call "yoga" are the poses, some breathwork (pranayama), and some chanting or repeating the names of the divine (japa).

But, in fact, the Eightfold Path of Yoga (Ashtanga, Raja, or Integral Yoga) combines a system of practices mirroring the Buddha's Noble Eightfold Path, which was radically popular at the time, two millennia ago when the ancient yogi rishi Patanjali compiled his text to set out the ancient Vedic approach to "union with the divine."

They are not the same path, and they do not lead to the same goal, but they often use the same general terms, such as moksha (Pali vimutti) to describe "liberation from samsara." For the Brahmin priests of olde, "liberation" or "emancipation" was rebirth in Brahma's heaven.

• Brahma means "supreme" and was the personal God of the Brahmin priests, The Supremo, even though some understood that there was a higher truth, an impersonal "Ultimate Reality" behind all the illusion of maya called Brahman, the godhead or godhood; this distinction is crucial but as the words are so similar, some may miss the distinction and fall into wrong views about what the Vedas taught and how the Brahmin caste priests interpreted the ancient "Knowledge Books" of ancient proto-India when it was Maha Bharat and a likely remnant of the more ancient Indus Valley Civilization.
• The Hindu concept of BRAHMAN being impersonal brings it very close to a Buddhist understanding of the universe, whereas the Buddha rejected the Vedas, the concept of Great Brahma as the creator of the universe, and most Brahminical ideas of the Old Vedic Religion which he revivified by explaining in novel ways lost to the Brahmin rishis and scholar priests who were unable to explain many tough passages and instead speculated and wrangled and had fallen into wrong views.

The Buddha made known the path to all destinations

The Buddha and Early Buddhism did not advocate any spiritual seeker to remain in samsara (the Cycle of Rebirth and Death), which is what "rebirth with Brahma" means.

• Buddhist cosmology

Moreover, the Buddha taught the way to rebirth in Brahma's retinue, the path to rebirth as a brahma (including Great Brahma, of which there is only one per each "world system" or cakkavala. This is possibly a reference to a "universe" in the multiverse, a solar system, or a galaxy like the Milky Way, of which there are countless all like bubbles).

Brahmins (now Hindus) believes this will then be their final permanent destination, the end of further rebirths in samsara, with no possibility falling away, other brahmas, devas, and Noble Ones in the Pure Abodes -- as well as rebirth on the human plane, 30 other Planes of Existence -- and best of all, ultimate bliss and peace: the END of all further rebirth (nirvana).

• Anand Universe Official; Dhr. Seven, Amber Larson, Pat Macpherson, Wisdom Quarterly

Is Alan Watts a shamanic madman?

The Mystical Experience - Alan Watts

Alan Watts: A Short Biography

(IVLIAN MCMXCVI) The famous Western philosopher Alan Watts is a legend of the 20th century. An illustrious mind that influenced the conjunction of Eastern and Western ways of life, Watts brings his profound message to a generation of hippies through his legacies, actions taken during his life and his wise thoughts recorded by Pacifica Free Speech Radio (KPFA and KPFK) and KQED TV.

This short biography is about the existence of a happy man, a father and a teacher. His life may be an example for us, for those that want to achieve serenity and true calm. Whether we live up to the idealism of what he discusses, we are at least given insight into how other parts of the world view the world and why the West was won over by the East and its ideas.

This film was created for educational purposes and is not intended for commercial means. Credits to the composer Eugen Doga for his beautiful song "I loved it."  Please subscribe to channel and share the film to popularize such types of knowledge and further help other people to achieve understanding. Subscribe and like if you enjoyed the video. Thanks! Join: Instagram: modus_accessio #alanwatts #philosophy #enlightenment

• Aldous Huxley: A Short Biography
• IVLIAN MCMXCVI, Jan. 24, 2019; Pat Machpherson, Dhr. Seven (eds.), Wisdom Quarterly