Effortless Living: Wu-Wei and the Spontaneous State of Natural Harmony

Written by Jason Gregory and Damo Mitchell

Narrated by Jason Gregory

A guide for achieving an enlightened mind through the art of non-doing

• Details meditation practices, focused on stillness of the mind, along with Patanjali’s yoga methods to maintain a consciousness referred to as “being in the zone”

• Builds on Taoist, Confucian, and Hindu principles along with scientific findings to support wu-wei--the art of non-doing, non-forcing--as a way of life

• Explains how wu-wei practitioners cultivate intelligent spontaneity and effortless action to allow the natural harmony of the cosmos to prevail

The practice of non-doing, non-forcing is an essential aspect of Taoism known as wu-wei. Attributed to the great sage Lao-tzu, the philosophy of wu-wei teaches you how to develop a natural state of consciousness not bound by thought or preconceived limitations. Experienced by the greatest artists, athletes, musicians, and writers, this heightened state of consciousness, referred to as “being in the zone,” is where intelligent spontaneity and effortless action flourish via a practice rooted in permitting the natural harmony of the cosmos to prevail.

Merging Taoist philosophy, Hindu principles, and Confucianism along with scientific findings, Jason Gregory outlines the practice of wu-wei as a vehicle to realize our innate freedom, revealing that when we release our ego and allow life to unfold as it will, we align ourselves more closely with our goals and cultivate skill and mastery along the way. Equating “being in the zone” with a stillness of the mind, Gregory shares meditation practices coupled with yoga exercises from Patanjali that allow you to approach life with a mastery of acceptance, releasing deluded beliefs of how to achieve success that make your mind “sticky” and poised for conflict. The author shows how practicing wu-wei paradoxically empowers you to accomplish all that you desire by having no intention to do so, as well as allowing you to become receptive to nature’s blueprint for expressing beauty.

Revealing wisdom utilized by renowned sages, artists, and athletes who have adapted “being in the zone” as a way of life, the author shows that wu-wei can yield a renewed sense of trust in many aspects of your daily life, making each day more effortless. As an avid wu-wei practitioner, he provides keen insight on how you, too, can experience the beauty of achieving an enlightened, effortless mind while reveling in the process of life’s unfolding.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Inner Traditions Audio
• Release date: Sep 17, 2019
• ISBN: 9781644110843

Jason Gregory

Jason Gregory is a teacher and international speaker specializing in the fields of Eastern and Western philosophy, comparative religion, metaphysics, and ancient cultures. For several years he studied with masters in Buddhism, Gnosticism, Hermeticism, Hinduism, and Taoism, traveling to some of the most remote places in the world. The filmmaker of the documentary The Sacred Sound of Creation, he divides his time between Asia and Australia.

Reviews for Effortless Living

[Camille Hamon · Rating: 1 out of 5 stars]

Repetitive and very intellectual. A lot of general high level critique about how "society" works. Not recommended.

[Mark Russell · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Very intellectual and well written, though it was dry I never felt any of that which he speaks of come through in the writing

[Baruch Roter · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Very clear and helpful. Jason does an excellent job helping the listener deeply understand Taoism, Wu Wei and Vedanta.
His gentle and pleasant voice contributes to absorbing the material. I just finished it and got so much out of it I plan to listen to it again. Thank you so much Jason!

[lianne · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Really great book week worth a read. Lots to unlearn

[Paul Kern · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This book is a very accessible way to understand the way of of the Dao, especially the last chapter, as it covers spiritual pride. In fact, I’m going to re-listen to it. You can’t just run off and be a hermit.

[Greta · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Interesting approach of life. Book itself easy to read and informative.

[Mohd · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This was a really insightful book. Very well written ❤