Author: Wuming Chuan

I was playing around with Grok AI and asked it a few questions about our practice. I was impressed with what it came up with – especially the picture it drew when I asked what I’d look like in ten years if I keep up my practice.

What is Wuweidao?

Wuweidao is a spiritual path rooted in the ancient Chinese wisdom text, the Dao De Jing, often associated with the philosophy of Daoism. The term combines “wuwei” (無為), meaning “non-action” or “effortless action,” and “dao” (道), meaning “the Way,” suggesting a practice of aligning oneself with the natural flow of existence without force or contrived effort. It emphasizes self-revelation and the discovery of one’s true nature through simplicity, ease, and spontaneity.

Historically, Wuweidao has been described as a transformative approach that has inspired various cultivation traditions in China and beyond. It encourages practitioners to let go of compulsive striving and instead embrace a state of being that harmonizes with the Dao—the underlying principle of the universe. A key practice in Wuweidao is zuowang (坐忘), or “sitting and forgetting,” a form of non-conceptual meditation aimed at quieting the mind and releasing attachments to desires or intellectual grasping.

In the Western context, Wuweidao was notably introduced in the late 20th century by Liu Ming, a practitioner who passed away in 2015. His students have since continued to share this “nameless stream” of teachings, often through structured cultivation groups that study the Dao De Jing and integrate practices like meditation, recitation, and sometimes supplementary arts such as tea ceremonies or daoyin (Daoist exercises). Unlike more elaborate Daoist religious traditions, Wuweidao focuses on a direct, unadorned approach to experiencing the Dao.

In essence, Wuweidao is about living effortlessly in tune with the natural order, cultivating inner peace and joy by diminishing artificial effort and aligning with what is authentic and unforced.

Explain Zuowang meditation

Zuowang (坐忘), often translated as “sitting and forgetting” or “sitting in oblivion,” is a meditative practice rooted in Daoist tradition, particularly emphasized in the context of Wuweidao and earlier Daoist texts like the Zhuangzi. The term breaks down into “zuo” (坐), meaning “to sit,” and “wang” (忘), meaning “to forget,” pointing to a practice where one sits in stillness and lets go of mental attachments, concepts, and distractions. It’s less about achieving a specific state and more about dissolving the barriers created by the mind to reveal one’s natural, uncontrived connection to the Dao—the Way.

Core Concept

Zuowang is grounded in the Daoist principle of wuwei (non-action), where the practitioner refrains from forcing or directing the mind. Instead of focusing on a single point (like in some concentrative meditations) or actively visualizing, zuowang involves releasing intentional effort. The “forgetting” aspect refers to letting go of:

• Personal identity or ego
• Desires and aversions
• Discursive thoughts and intellectual analysis
• Even the notion of meditating itself

The goal isn’t to suppress thoughts but to allow them to arise and pass without clinging, much like clouds drifting across a clear sky. This aligns with the Daoist view that the natural state of being is already whole and doesn’t need to be engineered.

How It’s Practiced

While specific instructions can vary depending on the teacher or lineage, zuowang typically follows these general steps:

1. Physical Preparation: Sit comfortably, often cross-legged or on a chair, with an upright yet relaxed posture. The body should feel stable but not rigid, reflecting the balance of effort and ease.
2. Settling In: Begin with a few deep breaths to relax the body, then let breathing return to its natural rhythm. There’s no need to control it.
3. Letting Go: Rather than focusing on an object (like the breath or a mantra), simply rest in open awareness. When thoughts, emotions, or sensations arise, don’t fight them or follow them—just “forget” them by not engaging.
4. Non-Attachment: If you notice yourself planning, worrying, or even evaluating the meditation, gently release that too. The practice is about shedding layers of mental activity, not adding new ones.
5. Duration: Sessions can last anywhere from 15 minutes to an hour, depending on the practitioner’s experience and context, though there’s no strict rule.

Historical Roots

Zuowang appears in the Zhuangzi (circa 4th century BCE), a foundational Daoist text, where it’s described as a state of merging with the Dao by abandoning worldly concerns. In Chapter 6, a dialogue between Confucius and his disciple Yan Hui illustrates it: Yan Hui describes progressing by “forgetting” rituals, music, benevolence, and righteousness, eventually sitting in oblivion to unite with the “Great Pervader” (the Dao). Later, in the Tang Dynasty (7th–10th centuries), Daoist adepts like Sima Chengzhen formalized zuowang as a cultivation method, outlining stages of stillness and detachment.

What It Feels Like

Practitioners often report a sense of spaciousness or lightness as the mind’s chatter fades. It’s not about blankness or unconsciousness but a lucid, effortless presence—like settling into the flow of a river rather than swimming against it. Over time, this can cultivate a deep inner calm and a shift in how one relates to daily life, emphasizing spontaneity over control.

Purpose in Wuweidao

In the Wuweidao tradition, zuowang is a key practice for embodying the Dao. It strips away the artificial constructs of self and society, allowing the practitioner to experience their “true nature” (ziran, 自然), which is inherently aligned with the universe. It’s less a technique for achieving something and more a way of unbecoming what obscures the Dao’s natural expression.

In short, zuowang meditation is a quiet, radical letting-go—a sitting that invites the practitioner to dissolve into the vast, unnameable flow of existence.