Embracing the Void in the Age of Blue Ticks of Whatsapp
We allow ourselves to be overwhelmed by a frenzy of external validations
We allow ourselves to be overwhelmed by a frenzy of external validations — AI Image by Author (Midjourney).
In this article, I wish to share personal reflections inspired by my recent studies of Taoist philosophy. I'm discovering that Taoist teachings naturally integrate with what I've learned over the past four years through the study of Vedanta philosophy. It's as though these two ancient traditions of wisdom are complementary, working together in harmony, just like the oleiferous bulbs nourish and support the growth of a citrus fruit.
I humbly follow the ancient maxim of Adi Shankara:
"As a river absorbs the waters of various tributaries, so an open mind absorbs ideas from diverse cultures."
This open mentality allows me to embrace diverse perspectives, enriching my understanding of the world around me.
It's with a curious spirit and willingness to learn that I explore Taoism and Vedanta, finding surprising parallels and resonances between these two great systems of thought. On my journey of discovery, I feel grateful to be able to draw from these wellsprings of ancient wisdom.
WhatsApp’s blue ticks
We live in the anxiety of WhatsApp’s blue ticks, in that frenzy of external validations that characterizes our hyperconnected age. Yet, the more we allow ourselves to be overwhelmed by this bulimia of attention, the more we feel that something is slipping away and that the true essence of being lies elsewhere.
It is here that the ancient wisdom of Taoism speaks to me with a voice that is old yet ever new.
For in the concept of “Wu,” the primordial void, lies the key to understanding what truly matters.
Unity
The philosophy and way of life known as Taoism finds its origins dating back to a long time ago in ancient Chinese history, specifically the 6th century before the common era began. The central guidance and instructions that form the basis of Taoism concentrate on existing in a state of unity and accord with the natural orderly progression of all things in the universe, referred to as the Tao.
Included among the key and fundamental beliefs are the concepts of wu wei (taking action without excessive effort or force), ziran (existing in a state of naturalness), and maintaining a balanced condition between the complementary but opposing forces of yin and yang. Those who follow the Taoist traditions wholeheartedly accept and embrace a lifestyle defined by simplicity, humility, and refraining from unnecessary action, viewing these as pathways leading to a state of enlightened understanding.
For an initial introduction that is easily accessible, the written work titled “What is Tao?” authored by Alan Watts provides insightful and illuminating explanations regarding the various concepts intrinsic to Taoism and their relevance to how one experiences life in the modern world.
Filling every space
You see, in the Western world, we are so obsessed with filling every space, with grasping and defining every fragment of reality.
From a young age, we’re conditioned to categorize and label everything around us. A flower is reduced to merely a plant, a cloud to a mass of water droplets.
But in doing so, aren’t we betraying the very essence of things? Aren’t we losing the sense of their ephemeral dance, of their being in perpetual becoming?
Definition
Wu reminds us that it is not the word, the definition, that fills existence with meaning. The void has already taken care of that, that fertile and undefined ground from which all forms of life germinate. Because in Taoist thought, Wu does not represent a sterile absence, but an inexhaustible potential of infinite possibilities.
It is here that everything is born, changes, and transforms, before returning once more to its origin. Wu is the space of non-being from which being itself springs forth, the cosmic womb that embraces the perpetual becoming of the universe.
In the Chinese tradition of thought, there is no interest in imprisoning meaning within rigid definitions, which end up being limiting cages. Rather, space is preferred for open and fluid interpretation. In the ancient epochs of Chinese civilization, there was no attraction to the search for absolute truths through the assignment of fixed names, as occurred in the Western tradition, where the sense of the absolute was constructed.
Non-linear change
In the Chinese language, reasoning proceeds through the use of verbs, thus rendering the very essence of being an opinion subject to discussion, rather than a definitive concept. China has always privileged becoming, non-linear change, rejecting the absoluteness of the concept of “being” as conceived in the West.
The fundamental unit of the Chinese language, logic, and thought are images freely associated with one another (ideograms), based on similarities, not unlike the metaphor in Western thought. Therefore, there are no truly fixed and defined concepts as we understand them in the West. The blending of meanings is never static but always in a state of continuous transformation.
The Chinese word, then, is image before sound; in the representation of the ideogram, it is the image that is evident, with various signs that, put together, create a meaning that goes far beyond the meaning of the individual elements or beyond the translation that we Westerners could give with one of our words: the ideogram is a concept in itself.
Alphabetic writing is a representation of sound, while the ideogram represents sight. Moreover, it represents the world directly because it is not the sign of a sound that is the name of a thing.
The contours of our existence
Yet we, coming from the Western tradition, dare to fill even this primordial void with our limited definitions and narrow concepts. We allow others to trace the contours of our existences, to fill the silences with the deafening clamour of their illusory certainties. But don’t you see? Such an approach has no rational justification!
I believe it is time to embrace Wu. Taoism teaches us this; to dwell in the void that permeates everything, to rediscover the beauty of what cannot be defined, the wonder of what simply is, in an incessant flow of changing forms. I think that a cloud is never the same from one moment to the next, defying any attempt to pigeonhole it. I believe that a flower is not just a “plant,” but a unique and momentary explosion of colours, fragrances, and harmonies that renew with every blink of an eye.
And…so?
In the age of blue ticks of Whatsapp, I feel we should let Wu permeate us. To listen to the silence between words, the void that gives breath to the music of life. And above all, not to allow others to define and fill what is by nature open, undefined, in constant becoming.
For I think it is precisely when we abandon the obsession with definitions that we will grasp the authentic essence of existence, the dance of forms that incessantly transform into one another. I believe that it is in the void that true fullness resides, in the willingness to embrace the mystery of becoming without wanting to cage it in predetermined labels and concepts.
I urge you to embrace Wu, the ancient and ever-new void. And let it be Wu that shapes you, writing the score of your lives on an infinitely blank sheet of music.
Practical examples
Here are three practical examples of how to begin embracing wu in your daily life:
Practice mindfulness. Sit in silence for a few minutes each day and focus solely on your breath. This will help clear your mind of thoughts and worries, allowing you to experience inner emptiness (wu).
Embrace simplicity. Sit quietly, breathe deeply. Let thoughts dissipate, experiencing inner emptiness. Simplify life. Eliminate non-essentials, and focus on what truly matters. Act only when you absolutely must.
Spend time in nature. Immerse yourself in the surrounding natural environment, whether walking in a park or simply admiring the sky. Observe the empty spaces between trees, clouds, and the silence around you. This can help you connect with emptiness and inner peace.
Remember, wu is not a negative emptiness, but a space full of potential and infinite possibilities. Embrace it calmly and mindfully in your daily life.
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