Master Zongxuan's Treatise on the Profound Outline: Chapter 15 - Form Moves, Mind Remains Still

 When the form moves but the mind remains still, and the spirit is concentrated while the traces shift, this is non-action (Wu Wei). When one lives in leisure but the spirit is disturbed, or remains silent and respectful yet the mind wanders, this is action (You Wei). Non-action leads to order, while action leads to chaos. Although non-action is the easiest thing, it cannot be achieved by those who are not perfectly enlightened. Heaven and Earth practice non-action during the day and during the night; non-action is one, yet order and chaos differ. Why is this? Daytime non-action brings brightness, so the myriad Yang energies appear while the Yin energies lie hidden. Nighttime non-action brings darkness, so the Yin energies prevail while the Yang energies cease. Therefore, when the ruler is bright and practices non-action, the loyal and virtuous advance, the treacherous and deceitful hide, and the world is governed well. When the ruler is dark and practices non-action, the loyal and virtuous conceal themselves, the treacherous and deceitful take office, and the world falls into chaos. Thus, the enlightened practice non-action with wisdom, while the obscured practice non-action with confusion. Wisdom connects with the Dao, while confusion aligns with material things. The Dao and material things both practice non-action; how can they be considered the same? Therefore, although the Perfect Man values non-action, he must not fail to examine it. To examine and then practice non-action is truly non-action.

 Explanation: Although the physical body moves, if the mind is still and the spirit is concentrated while the person is in motion, this is non-action. If one is at leisure but the spirit is chaotic, or remains silent yet the mind wanders outward, this is action. Non-action leads to things becoming orderly and self-organizing, while action leads to everything becoming chaotic. Although non-action is easy, it cannot be achieved by those who have not fully understood it. Heaven and Earth, day and night, all practice non-action, and non-action is unified. Yet there are special cases of order and chaos; why? Because daytime non-action brings brightness, so the Yang energies appear and Yin energies hide. Nighttime non-action brings darkness, so Yin energies prevail and Yang energies cease. Therefore, those who are bright and practice non-action have many loyal and virtuous officials and few treacherous ones, leading to good governance. Those who are dark and practice non-action see loyal officials hidden and treacherous ones numerous, leading to chaos in the world. Thus, one must use non-action with wisdom to avoid the state of non-action born of confusion. Wisdom connects with the Dao, while confusion aligns with material things. The Dao and material things both practice non-action, yet how can one think they are the same? Therefore, although the Perfect Man considers non-action very important, he must not fail to examine it; only by examining and then practicing non-action can one achieve true non-action.

 Analysis: Here, the focus is on analyzing the differences in non-action. There is non-action that is Yang and non-action that is Yin. Although one still practices non-action, the requirement is Yang non-action, so that everything proceeds smoothly and avoids chaos. How to achieve Yang non-action? It is to use wisdom. Wisdom is the manifestation of clarity, cleanliness, and rationality, rather than confusion and ignorance, or superstition towards external objects without autonomy. Therefore, one must examine and then practice non-action to achieve true non-action.

 The same applies in cultivation. During cultivation, although one empties the mind and forgets the self, one must not lack self-awareness. One must protect oneself properly. Any strange phenomena or involuntary movements must be met with a clear and awake mind and spirit; this is the true way of non-action.

 For example, in some cultivation practices, spontaneous movement of the limbs and body may occur after practicing. Although the cultivator has no thoughts or intentions, this is not the correct path. Because the body is not under one's own control, although it appears to fit "form moves, mind remains still," this is actually Yin non-action. Yang retreats and Yin energy prevails, leading to chaos and inexplicable bodily movements. In magical cultivation, such as spirit writing (Fuji) or Divine Fist, although these can be useful for magical applications, accumulating Yin energy over a long period is detrimental. Thus, it is often seen that those who have served as spirit mediums for decades eventually have to return to orthodox cultivation paths, but at this stage, it is much more difficult than for ordinary people.