The sage engages in effortless action because it reduces stress, uses less energy, prevents retaliation, and helps one live in harmony.
Striving
The sage never strives and doesn’t force things. They don’t plan or set goals.
“The highest good is not to seek to do good, but to allow yourself to become it. The ordinary person seeks to do good things, and finds that they can not do them continually.”
Dao De Jing, Chapter 38
Even though they don’t act everything gets taken care of.
“The Dao never acts with force, yet there is nothing that it can not do.”
Dao De Jing, Chapter 37
They know that failure happens when action is forced because it interferes with the natural flow.
“If you rush into action, you will fail. If you hold on too tight, you will lose your grip. Therefore the Master lets things take their course and thus never fails. She doesn’t hold on to things and never loses them. By pursing your goals too relentlessly, you let them slip away.”
Dao De Jing, Chapter 64
Useless Action
The sage does not engage in useless action which includes striving or being arrogant.
“Those who stand on tiptoes do not stand firmly. Those who rush ahead don’t get very far. Those who try to outshine others dim their own light. Those who call themselves righteous can’t know how wrong they are. Those who boast of their accomplishments diminish the things they have done. Compared to the Dao, these actions are unworthy. If we are to follow the Dao, we must not do these things.”
Dao De Jing, Chapter 24
They never struggle for greatness or accomplishments.
“Act by not acting; do by not doing…The Master never takes on more than she can handle, which means that she leaves nothing undone.”
Dao De Jing, Chapter 63
Simplifying
The Way simplifies and reduces.
“The Dao works to use the excess, and gives to that which is depleted. The way of people is to take from the depleted, and give to those who already have an excess. Who is able to give to the needy from their excess? Only someone who is following the way of the Dao.”
Dao De Jing, Chapter 77
In the same way the sage finds things to let go.
“One who seeks knowledge learns something new every day. One who seeks the Dao unlearns something new every day. Less and less remains until you arrive at non-action. When you arrive at non-action, nothing will be left undone.”
Dao De Jing, Chapter 48
Simplifying leads to a more satisfying life.
“If you want to become whole, first let yourself become broken. If you want to become straight, first let yourself become twisted. If you want to become full, first let yourself become empty. If you want to become new, first let yourself become old. Those whose desires are few get them, those whose desires are great go astray.”
Dao De Jing, Chapter 22
Contending
The Way never contends yet always succeeds.
“The Dao of the universe does not compete, yet wins.”
Dao De Jing, Chapter 73
Therefore the sage doesn’t contend or argue with others.
“Wise men don’t need to debate; men who need to debate are not wise…The Dao of Heaven nourishes by not forcing. The Dao of the Wise person acts by not competing.”
Dao De Jing, Chapter 81
By acting only when necessary the sage protects themself from retaliation.
“For this reason the Master embraces the Dao, as an example for the world to follow…Because she wants nothing from the world, the world can not overcome her.”
Dao De Jing, Chapter 22
Effortless action allows the softest to overcome the hardest. The sage embraces passivity and flows with life.
“That which offers no resistance, overcomes the hardest substances. That which offers no resistance can enter where there is no space. Few in the world can comprehend the teaching without words, or understand the value of non-action.”
Dao De Jing, Chapter 43
Minimal Action
Even though the sage doesn’t force there are times when they act. They never do so with pride, benefit, or domination. They reach the desired outcome and stop. There is no need to do more.
“When victory is won over the enemy through war it is not a thing of great pride. When the battle is over, arrogance is the new enemy. War can result when no other alternative is given, so the one who overcomes an enemy should not dominate them.”
Dao De Jing, Chapter 30
Leadership
The leader hesitates to act and is willing to yield.
“It is better to become the passive in order to see what will happen. It is better to retreat a foot than to advance only an inch. This is called being flexible while advancing, pushing back without using force, and destroying the enemy without engaging him.”
Dao De Jing, Chapter 69
They find the minimal solution and then stop. They resist using violence because they know it leads to retaliation.
“Using force always leads to unseen troubles…The skillful commander strikes a decisive blow then stops.”
Dao De Jing, Chapter 30
They focus on the essentials of food, safety, and harmony.
“The Master leads by emptying people’s minds, filling their bellies, weakening their ambitions, and making them become strong. Preferring simplicity and freedom from desires, avoiding the pitfalls of knowledge and wrong action. For those who practice not-doing, everything will fall into place.”
Dao de Jing, Chapter 3
They know that excessive laws leads to unhappiness and law breaking.
“The more prohibitions you make, the poorer people will be…The more laws that you make, the greater the number of criminals.”
Dao De Jing, Chapter 57
The leader allows the people the freedom to live their lives and be their true self.
“I do nothing, and people become good by themselves. I seek peace, and people take care of their own problems. I do not meddle in their personal lives, and the people become prosperous. I let go of all my desires, and the people return to the Uncarved Block.”
Dao De Jing, Chapter 57
Summary
Effortless action reduces stress and helps one live in harmony. The sage never sets goals because this only leads to failure. They do not contend and this protects them from retaliation. They embrace passivity and flow with life. If they have to act they never do so with pride, benefit, or domination. They reach the desired outcome and stop. The leader uses effortless action by not using violence and focusing on the essentials. Excessive laws only leads to unhappiness and law breaking.
Resource:
Tao Te Ching, Laozi, A Translation for the Public Domain by J.H. McDonald, 1996.
