Wu Wei (Harmony)

Many people guess that if they try, work hard, and spend time more than normal, they will be success. But the fact isn’t always like that. Remember: we have definite power source, especially power and time. So that, do the smart idea than work hard or rely on muscle. Don’t just work hard, but work smart.
This is one story…

Kungfu Lao Shi and Two Followers

In China, there lived Kungfu Lao Shi who is very old. He has 2 followers who same in grade, spirit, and tenacity in Kungfu.
To heir his institution, he must chose one’s the best. The competition started. But, informed of strength, it always over with equal result. They could pervade the same knowledge from the Lao Shi. The two of them is often get exercises together until they know about the excess and sparseness each other.
To know who the best, Lao Shi told something to them, “Tomorrow morning you must go to woods gather the twists. One’s who return home with the more result, he become the winner. Time starts from 5 a.m until 5 p.m. Here is the chopping knife you can use. Now, take a rest for tomorrow.”
First student reflected an image that tomorrow he must work more hard and seriously because the time is definite. He was too focus at time: leave at 5 a.m. After sure about his time, he slept.
With the same challenge, the second student focus at the work that he must to do. He looked into the chopping knife; it was old and dull. So, he decided to search abrasive stone to make that sharp and ready to use. “With sharp chopping knife, the same result can be reached will less effort”.
The second challenge is how to carry twists with efficient and effectively?
While his friend is sleeping, he is thinking the best way to carry with more amount. After a while, he prepared rope and yoke stick. He can carry two big cord of tie in front and at the behind. So, it was very used. With satisfied then he slept.
Tomorrow, the first student that planning to work hard got up at the time and went to woods as fast as he could. While the second student slept. At 6 a.m, the second students woke up. Then he looked for rope, yoke stick, abrasive stone and sharpened the chopping knife. After finished, he left to the woods, and it was 7 a.m.
When it was 1 p.m, the second student success collected many twists. Then he bonded into 2 sides and carried on the shoulders. Arrived, he gave the twists to his Lao Shi. He was success got many twists and arrived earlier.
While the first student, didn’t sharpen his chopping knife, he must applied time and energy more to cut twists. So, he need more time to rest because of being tired. Beside that, it need more time to search rope and solved how to carry the twists on the shoulders, the amount was definite.
Value: Hard work is needful, but the most important that we must apply strategy, tactics, and technology for every action to get the maximal result although with less efforts.
Education applications: with continuous improvement of technology, we not have to trade on power and muscle to win. But the most important things that it needs artfulness and perspicacity on benefitted the technology.
Wu Wei is about “without action”. The meaning told us that to reach maximal result we must have harmony with nature, not struggle against the flow. Including, used of leverage will get the maximal result without great pains.
The example is water. It can adapt with every shape of it’s circles and area, including small hole that is very small too. With it’s liquid characteristic even it can destroy woods, stone, and any kind of solid things.
Like study, prepare everything well. Never against flow, but endure like water. Apply strategy, tactics, and technology for every action too.