On YT This book is a video narrative by a Good translator. And a good enough elocution. The natural settings sounds and slightly psychedelic micro touches is just fine. Like a spiritual shower Maybe it doesn't last But practice watching again Listening. It catches on. Things magnify for Good
Men should know that success isn't built on success. It's built on failure and frustration, and on fear that you have to overcome. That's what the e-book called Unveiling Your Hidden Potential' by Bruce Thornwood taught me. The best read I ever had.
If you feel like you’re a failure and you can’t do anything right here’s a secret. You CAN. Your low self esteem has you believing you aren’t WINNING at most things you do. That was my problem until I started counted my wins every single day. If I get a good nights sleep that’s a win, if I get a job done on time that’s a win, if I feel good after eating something, that’s a win. You realize you win more than you lose! A LOT more. And seeing yourself be a winner changes your mindset completely. You don’t TRY to be a winner, you don’t TRY to be happier, you don’t TRY to be successful… the truth is you’ve always been those things therefore it’s the realization of who you are that changes your life, not the act of trying to improve. This mindset has worked wonders for me
Yes,an attitude of gratitude! Also it's immensely helpful to develop a giving mindset, which is to be aware of others who come across your path who may need a small act of kindness. Do that practice, and you'll feel great and soon enough your whole life changes for the better!
I discovered this when I finally let go of the things I thought I wanted. It was more out of frustration than out of understanding the Tao. I now have a wife, children, and a comfortable life. I’ve gone from a 60-70 hr corporate workweek to less than 20 hours of work per week. I was practicing wu wei without knowing.
This exact same thing happened to me. I wanted so badly to make the basketball team for 7 years and I would train for at least 3 to 5 hours a day. Then in my junior year I let go of it a genuinely did not give any shits if I made the team. That year I didn’t even plan on trying out. Then all of a sudden the coach saw my brother playing in the gym and told him about me. One of the coaches asked me to join, but because I kind of let go I decided that playing basketball right now would take up too much of my time and turned him down. A few days later I ran into the head coach in the library and we started talking and then he invited me to come to conditioning so that way he could train me himself. By the time tryouts came back around I made the team😤. That’s when I truly felt the Wu Wei in action
I know what you mean. I used to work hours and hours of unpaid overtime because in my head it was the only way I could get through all my work to a high standard. One day I realised I was not appreciated, and was just a number. I cut back and now only work the hours I am paid to do. I got my life back. I am happier, and strangely enough I can still get through my work. I have no idea what I was actually doing when I was working all of those hours of working unpaid overtime!
In my humble opinion, you get back what you put in. On a universal level. Be trusting and happy as a child putting carefree vibes into the cosmos brings these energies back to you. I agree much easier said than done. Wish only goodness to all in all things, and watch what happens. Give it time you won't be disappointed. Good luck to us all in all things.
@@PeaceOfMake whereas in reality ive notice more bad stuff happens to good people. in fact the gooder you ar ethe more badder happens. The jesus distortion maybe ?
It's easy to get this wrong, but you are wrong. The Dao and Lao Tzu, does not say to not "try" it says to not "effort," and this is a subtle but significant difference. The best translations of the concept is "efforting without effort," meaning to try without over exertion. Today, some call this "flow" when your actions are smooth and effortless. But one is still trying.
The Universe is always working to rebalance itself. I've learned over the years to adjust my plans to what the Universe tells me, and strive for the best outcome within that framework. Surprises are a lot easier to deal with in this practice!
"By refusing to help me, you left me with the same choice I had to begin with, to try or not to try, to take a risk or to play it safe. And your arguments have reminded me how precious the right to choose is. Because I've never been one to play it safe. I choose to try." - Captain Jean-Luc Picard
Lao Tzu's philosophy of not trying goes hand in hand with Transcendental Meditation, since one of the things they teach about TM is that the way to have a successful TM session is to not to try to clear your mind of your thoughts during your TM sessions, but to just allow your mind to have thoughts during TM since thoughts are a natural part of TM since engaging in TM isn't based on any type of effort other than just repeating your mantra inside your mind.
I love this channel. It celebrates humanity, life, and our magical universe as a whole. Quantum mechanics/physics taught me to "see" beyond what I can see, hear, taste, and touch....and this channel helps me make sense of it all. Please keep doing what you do 👍 I wish everybody a happy and magical life 🙏
This is exactly what I needed for one of my clients who constantly battles with over-analysis and fear of failure. They’ve spent years trying to "outperform" and "overcontrol" every situation, which only led to burnout and frustration. When we started exploring the Taoist principle of Wu-Wei, they realized that by releasing control and letting things unfold naturally, they could actually achieve more with less effort. The concept of becoming the "uncarved block" helped them find peace in simplicity and spontaneity. I’m beyond grateful for this video, as it reinforces the profound impact of practicing non-action!
Watched this video in the exact point of my life where I feel that my mind is taking control, mostly my anxiety. Thanks for doing this great illustration with soul soothing information ❤
I am now returning to these concepts after a period of forcing, trying, feeling my body literally get stiff as a result of trying to control. My main takeaway is go from trying at life to simply experiencing it. Just receive and experience each day and decision as it comes. And be sincere and honest in your experiencing without pretense.
Thank you so much for this video. Such a beautiful explanation and paired with gorgeous illustrations that really get the point through. It inspired me to try less hard and be more present. I will definetly save it for later when life carries me away and I get too try hard about whatever the next thing is. Thank you!
Lovely, very valuable. I practice and teach that striving, struggling contains resistance energies, resistance to Now, What Is that we're experiencing. It contains fear. And? The "U"niverse, Life,Tao, mirrors 'out there,' whatever we are being, 'in here,' within us. So what we resist, persists, as we inadvertently push away what we really want, keeping the carrot just out of our reach by default. Not doing, acceptance is a "yes" to life, "and" what comes next in our experience, will reflect this energy. As will "no," which is a "yes" to what isn't wanted...
A few months ago, I put out a poll asking, 'what great philosopher should After Skool cover?' Among names like Marcus Aurelius, Aristotle, Rumi, Confucius and many more, Lao Tzu received the vast majority of the votes. So I searched far and wide for content on Lao Tzu, and the best I found was from Einzelgänger. This collaboration took a ton of effort, but I truly believe it's the best video yet. It is one I will revisit frequently to maintain peace of mind. It was an honor to work with Einzelgänger. Please check out their channel. If you want to help create more animations like this, please support After Skool on Patreon. Thank you. One love. www.patreon.com/AfterSkool
About to have a job interview, I have the tendency to be incredibly anxious about these things. But I just watched this video and I will do my best to let go. I don't think I will get the job anyway (I may not be quite qualified) but it will be a good learning experience. That is the perspective I will take.
@@are_birds_real Thinking and worrying actually prevents you from taking action, effortlessly and without incessant thinking patterns that usually take energy away from working towards a real solution. If there is no real solution to work towards, you can accept it. Which will usually leave you less worried and able to take action if possible. The ego will say "if I don't worry all the time, we are doomed" in reality if you worry all the time you aren't present to actually improve your situation. Perception creates reality. Read the Tao Te Ching.
Thank you for this amazing Collab! Einzelgänger has been a constant watch for me as has after skool. Seeing this makes my soul happy. Cant wait for more :)
I found this approach very interesting, and it explains some abilities that I haven't been able to understand before. In board meetings or during both hostile and friendly negotiations, I have somehow always managed to come out on top. I leave a greater impression of establishing a more trustworthy truth by spontaneously reacting in a proactive and constructive manner, rather than directly trying to oppose and expose an opponent's true narratives or agenda. I think the way it works is that I have never planned or rehearsed anything I intend to say. I am in a perfect state of flow without any form of inner dialogue, simply reacting in the moment as an observer to what is being said. I only speak or try to express an opinion when I truly have something to say, and this way, everything I say seems to have an impact and be decisive. All this would probably come down like a house of cards if I tried to force it.
ok it was weird when i pulled out my tao te ching book to read for later before you even posted this video..now you show the Flow state book that i literally downloaded because a friend recommended it lmaooo! I am supposed to be here, I appreciate you!
A good teacher once told me "it's amazing what happens when you actually try". That advice stayed with me and there's no better feeling than the success that follows initiative and trial. I like Lao Tzu's message too, but ultimately I disagree. I wouldn't have the career I have nor most of my life's accomplishments without a lot of trying, 2nd attempts, 3rd attempts, forcing, asking, proving, pushing - it's called making things happen. "Not trying" is the default position - worse, most people actually create the illusion that they're working hard but are actually "not trying", getting the worst of both worlds.
non-action is not necessarily not trying, though I can kind of see how he made it seem like that. It’s more like doing without the burden of worry, you still try but you release any anxiety, stress, or need for control and simply put your trust in the universe.
Tao didn't preach not doing anything, it's doing things effortlessly Sure you may have achieved stuff you couldn't have without effortlessness but it's all materialistic
Thank you I needed to hear this… i often feel like I have to try hard, even when I know it won’t make a difference, but because I feel ashamed or judged for not trying.
If you ever listen to anything while reading comments, let it be this - go to borlest and read the book whispers of manifestation, then come back and thank me
@ron3799 they are abusing this space to peddle their bs, that's what it is about. This is essentially a scam message. Manifestation is a bizarre construct, according to which, if you think really hard about the think you want, e.g. money, it will manifest itself for you, you will "attract" it (of course, they may as well say "summon it"). It's like motivation books taken even further. It's completely anti-spiritual and anti-philosophical, lot of these fake gurus try to sell you a book that will make your dreams come true by simply concentrating on your dreams in your head (and often also paying them some form of contribution to help you manifest better). So his point is exactly, that you pay for this book.
It is a scam to sell you the book which promotes the charlatan concept of manifestation. I think he wants you to buy the book before you can see, what bizarre nonsense you bought @ron3799
beautiful job on narration and also loved the art style i seen a comment that said they learned more things on this channel than school has ever taught and i couldn't agree more reading + after skool is pure bliss shout out to yall
"Your mind is like this water, my friend. When it is agitated, it becomes difficult to see. But if you allow it to settle, the answer becomes clear." Master Oogway to Master Schifu
Amazing synthesis and visual representation of the priceless and timeless teachings! Thank you so much! giving a gift like that to humanity''s collective mind makes you ( guys) a gift to this world:)
Actually the art of not trying isn't about not trying but about not trying hard. The things you want badly can sometimes be obtained by trying softly. In my experience not trying at all is just as counterproductive as trying desperately. Both get you no results. Trying softly is in most cases the only good option.
is that how people end up in garbage heaps and dirt, because the trash doesn't take itself out and the house won't clean itself, no matter how many years they're practicing the splendid way of wuwei? ^^
The "true tao" must be form-less, yet influencing all forms, yes, as we might perceive from conscious awareness... Wu Wei... in the Flow of Things... surrender... action that says "yes" to what is perceived, then adds "and..." to it... again, again, again.... Blessings, thank you
Right, so when what you can't control oppresses you and tries to take away your freedom you should just make peace with it, bend over and take it happily?
Nature always wins ... go with the flow. I was explaining the rules of the road to my grandkids and consider DO NOT INTERRUPT THE FLOW OF TRAFFIC a top rule. I live near Radium Hot Springs BC where they just put in a traffic circle ... there use to be a 4 way stop. Of course traffic coming from AB is high on Friday and going back to AB on Sunday so the circle is much better and accommodates this rule. It's the same with life where forgiveness is a top rule of mine now whereas I use to hold grudges but that just took up too much space in my head. I lived in Edmonton AB when they had traffic circles everywhere and then they took them all out, not sure why. I remember my kids telling me that my brother had my car and them and was suppose to pick me up but was early so he kept going around the circle because they said 'Go around again'! Thank you for these wonderful thought provoking videos!!!
I’m hesitant to post this, but what the hell, here goes nothing 😊. I’ll try and keep it short! I have a friend who spent 10 years in a monastery in India, meditating 10 to 18 hours a day, seven days a week, for the entire 10 years. One day as he was sitting down to meditate, he experienced enlightenment. After he left the monastery, he traveled around the world for two years looking for people that were in the same state of consciousness. He only found four or five, but they all basically said the same thing. I’ll paraphrase what he told me here: There is no separate ‘you’. What appears to be a separate individual is simply what he called the ‘I’ thought, which is really what an ego is. It’s the thought/feeling that there is an individual ‘you’ deciding and choosing ways of being. According to him, there is not. Free will is an illusion. You can’t control all of your thoughts and actions, because there is no controller. This is what Lao Tzu really meant in the Tao Te Ching when he wrote ‘work without working’, and this is why it’s been so hard to understand his teachings for thousands of years. All of life is just happening. Buddha was very clear about this though. He clearly stated “deeds are being done, but no doer is to be found.” Jesus said ‘I and the Father are one.’ And so are ‘you’, one with God/the Dao/Brahma…. Or whatever you choose to call it. It is self-governing, and therefore moving every cell in your body and every planet in the universe, and everything in between. It is perfectly balanced, always. My friend told me what happened to him, and the enlightened people he met, was that thought just stopped completely, and they saw the world for what it really is: One eternal now, self-governing, perfectly balanced…everything is God, including you who are reading this. He went on to say there is nothing to get enlightened about, except to understand that you already are . Ultimately, he said ‘thought is the real devil.’ No thought, no you….so there is peace. I recently asked him ‘if this is the truth, and it has been taught clearly many times, why is it that so few people know about this? He told me the human mind, especially the ego, cannot accept the fact that it doesn’t actually exist, so people have built up entire religions around misunderstandings of these teachings, and here we are. This is his direct quote: “At the moment of dissolution, the final thought is that there has never been anyone home, ever! Not in you or anyone else. Everything is eternal, silent, intelligent energy, and all objects are mere appearances, like mirages. There is only the eternal moment with no individuals anywhere. The ego does not dissolve, it is seen by the no-one to have never been there in the first place. Obviously difficult to describe with a dualistic language. This is not some experience. There is no one left to experience anything, and a knowingness there has never been anyone there. This knowingness appears to no one. Some have called it perfect, brilliant stillness, and everything is it. When there is waking up from a dream, the dreamer dissolves also because the dreamer was an illusion.” I understand this sounds crazy to most of you reading this. If 10,000 people read this comment maybe one or two of you will actually accept what it’s saying, or possibly already know this. It takes a tremendous amount of study in most cases, or as my friend said, most people try really hard for a really long time, and when they eventually give up, that’s when they understand. Or you might want to try taking a bunch of psychedelics and crossing your fingers.😂 Or listen to Alan Watts talk entitled ‘you are God’ repeatedly. He says this all most eloquently! So relax, your consciousness is forever 😊. Everything else is in a constant state of change, including your body, thoughts, and feelings. There is no doer, and the Dao is running everything. There is one eternal present moment, in a perfect state of balance. If you are fortunate enough that your mind really quiets down,you will understand this for yourself. 😊
Thank you for posting, I have copied this to read again so that the words can sink in...and if you feel called to do something, please don't ignore it as there will be someone who needs to hear your message. I needed this reminder, thank you.
The Dow is most fascinating to read. Rule not by Force but by Universal organic FLOW. I love this. The way resonates with me. Stop pushing, forcing a sq peg into a Round hole 🎯♾️💚🤗 Thank you, I own the book & I’m 13:21 reading this vital practice. 💯
This is all very well and beautiful, but it doesn't resolve the fact that we slaughter animals to eat and that genocides are taking place right now. I think you would find it hard to explain to the recipients (both animals and people) of horrible violence, pain and suffering that it's really ok, because "you have no ego" and "it's all an illusion, maya" etc.
@@lukehunnable I agree, so I asked my friend about this. He referred me to the Bhagavad Gita, explaining how it mostly takes place on a battlefield. Arjuna the archer looks across the battlefield and sees friends and family members on the other side, and he breaks down at the thought of killing them. Krishna (God incarnate) tells Arjuna ‘it has already been done’ (meaning they are already dead), and basically to quit sniveling and be the warrior that he has made him to be. Somehow this enlightened Arjuna on the spot, and he got up and slaughtered thousands. In my friend’s exact words: ‘spirituality being focused solely on peace and love is bullsh*t. It’s an incorrect teaching!’ Alan Watts used to refer to the fact that competition for resources in nature creates conflict, but that conflict creates balance. There is no ‘doer’ doing any of those things you mention. Suffering is part of life. Buddha’s realization is that there is ‘I’ who suffers, which is ultimately how suffering ends. The body can suffer, and thoughts can be of suffering, but it’s not happening to any individual, because there is none. It’s all just happening, and if someone is depressed, kills an animal or a person, that is all just happening spontaneously as well. As is the reaction of those who are suffering. I asked my friend why this is the way it is here, and he said ‘the vibration here is just SO low!’ Maybe one day humans will evolve beyond all this, and I truly hope for that. My friend said the best thing to do is to meditate, because by allowing peace within, that peace is what you contribute to the consciousness of humanity.
This could actually make people respond in a way that seems effortlessly right. Don’t do nothing, but do what feels right at the moment. This leads to more compassionate and natural actions and responses according to what situation you see yourself in. Wow.
Love this and am trying to live my life more in this way. The more I trust and let go, the more it seems to work. The animation on this is beautiful and inspiring too, thanks!
After reading Marshall Summers’ work over and over again it is fascinating to watch this video uniting the golden pieces of wisdom throughout the human history - in the end there is one phenomenon, the one truth.
I love your team red vs team blue Yin Yang at the beginning! I spend countless hours trying to get people to look beyond such false dichotomies. We only hurt ourselves by reinforcing such divides
@@LittleHeyoka It's simple and basic but not easy because society dichotomizes and side tracks us ... we've been duped in so many ways but especially the birthday con-cept
@@LittleHeyoka They don't fall for it they like it. People like conflict. If you're born into a wealthy family like Lao Tzu, maybe your philosophy is to tell everyone to slow down and stop trying. If you're born into a poor family, maybe your philosophy is to create your own reality, to make things happen, etc. It depends on what will be good for you. Lao Tzu's philosophy is really bad advice for the underdog.
@@bennyskim how can you say Lao Tzu qas born into a wealthy family, if it is not even proven until today, that he actually existed. There are no documents, no texts, that report of him or his work. Do you know what Lao Tzu actually means?
@@bennyskim Again you have made a struggle by making "poverty" into a problem; you have equated money with contentedness and well-being. The poor man who is in that state of Wu-Wei is no poor man at all; the entire world bows before him
I quoted that to my friend on the phone the other day and he laughed and said: No, all there is, is try because nothing is set in stone. So now, I dont know what to believe.
Thank you for mentioning Csikszentmihaly! I was always looking for how the flow state idea entered the modern west, read a lot of mystics plus adorno and nishida and their pupils, but couldn't find anything related to psychology or neuroscience on that topic!
Thank you for the collaboration. I'm honored! The result is awesome!
that was about time
I follow both channels. It good to see you working together. Thank you both.
Good work
Two of my favourite channels collaborating 🙌🏻
On YT
This book is a video narrative by a Good translator.
And a good enough elocution.
The natural settings sounds and slightly psychedelic micro touches is just fine.
Like a spiritual shower
Maybe it doesn't last
But practice watching again
Listening.
It catches on.
Things magnify
for Good
Men should know that success isn't built on success. It's built on failure and frustration, and on fear that you have to overcome. That's what the e-book called Unveiling Your Hidden Potential' by Bruce Thornwood taught me. The best read I ever had.
🤖🤖
@@eldonpapa444 The audacity of advertisers is getting insane
this equally applies to women too, not just men
"Mastering Others Is Strength. Mastering Oneself Makes You Fearless."
~ Lao Tzu
Master your mind or have it mastered by others.
Mastering others ?
@@reikaratnaml concur!
Namaste 🙏
@@deanbutler3264he’s talking about trying to control others
I prefer the translation by Wayne Dyer-
“Mastering others requires force
Mastering the self requires strength”
I loved the visualization of the man dragging his entire past behind him trying to move forward.. SO profound and right.. Well done! So talented.
Expressly for me as at that moment of seeing it, I felt an immense level of embarrassment about trying so hard pretty often recently
If you feel like you’re a failure and you can’t do anything right here’s a secret. You CAN. Your low self esteem has you believing you aren’t WINNING at most things you do. That was my problem until I started counted my wins every single day. If I get a good nights sleep that’s a win, if I get a job done on time that’s a win, if I feel good after eating something, that’s a win. You realize you win more than you lose! A LOT more. And seeing yourself be a winner changes your mindset completely. You don’t TRY to be a winner, you don’t TRY to be happier, you don’t TRY to be successful… the truth is you’ve always been those things therefore it’s the realization of who you are that changes your life, not the act of trying to improve. This mindset has worked wonders for me
Yes,an attitude of gratitude!
Also it's immensely helpful to develop a giving mindset, which is to be aware of others who come across your path who may need a small act of kindness.
Do that practice, and you'll feel great and soon enough your whole life changes for the better!
"Control over others is weakness disguised as strength." - Eckhart Tolle
Tell @elonmusk that
❤
@@reikaratnamIt shows with him. No one could try harder.
@@reikaratnamtell Biden and Anthony Fauchi that.
@@WilcoxNotreallythereWrong! Don the Con, MTG, GOP, Maggots
I discovered this when I finally let go of the things I thought I wanted. It was more out of frustration than out of understanding the Tao. I now have a wife, children, and a comfortable life. I’ve gone from a 60-70 hr corporate workweek to less than 20 hours of work per week. I was practicing wu wei without knowing.
It's great!
Wow! Still the secret
This exact same thing happened to me. I wanted so badly to make the basketball team for 7 years and I would train for at least 3 to 5 hours a day. Then in my junior year I let go of it a genuinely did not give any shits if I made the team. That year I didn’t even plan on trying out. Then all of a sudden the coach saw my brother playing in the gym and told him about me. One of the coaches asked me to join, but because I kind of let go I decided that playing basketball right now would take up too much of my time and turned him down. A few days later I ran into the head coach in the library and we started talking and then he invited me to come to conditioning so that way he could train me himself. By the time tryouts came back around I made the team😤. That’s when I truly felt the Wu Wei in action
I know what you mean. I used to work hours and hours of unpaid overtime because in my head it was the only way I could get through all my work to a high standard. One day I realised I was not appreciated, and was just a number. I cut back and now only work the hours I am paid to do. I got my life back. I am happier, and strangely enough I can still get through my work. I have no idea what I was actually doing when I was working all of those hours of working unpaid overtime!
beautiful
In my humble opinion, you get back what you put in. On a universal level. Be trusting and happy as a child putting carefree vibes into the cosmos brings these energies back to you. I agree much easier said than done. Wish only goodness to all in all things, and watch what happens. Give it time you won't be disappointed. Good luck to us all in all things.
lol .. that iterally gets you killed .
This is the classic "bad things don't happen to good people" distorsion
@@PeaceOfMake whereas in reality ive notice more bad stuff happens to good people. in fact the gooder you ar ethe more badder happens. The jesus distortion maybe ?
@mythtree6348 it's a matter of good sense, and using your judgement as well. Approach the world you live in with a smile,
@mythtree6348 it's a matter of good sense, and using your judgement as well. Approach the world you live in with a smile,
Thanks so much to the people of After Skool for the animation and to Einzelgänger for the audio content. I love and support this work. ❤
Thank you. Much love.
@@AfterSkoolamazing
@@AfterSkool
It's easy to get this wrong, but you are wrong. The Dao and Lao Tzu, does not say to not "try" it says to not "effort," and this is a subtle but significant difference. The best translations of the concept is "efforting without effort," meaning to try without over exertion. Today, some call this "flow" when your actions are smooth and effortless. But one is still trying.
He does speak of the softness while doing.
@@FlyinDogRecords They do, but the put that central issue to the sideline and focus instead on a misinterpretation.
Oh, thanks. I did not know this. Now, it’s perfectly clear. 🙏🏼
"Well kids, you tried and failed miserably, the moral of the story? Dont ever try. " Homer
@@soadman13 I'm saying it because it's true. If you have a counter-argument, let's hear it.
The Universe is always working to rebalance itself. I've learned over the years to adjust my plans to what the Universe tells me, and strive for the best outcome within that framework. Surprises are a lot easier to deal with in this practice!
WOW!!! I've had this same epiphany! The universe is constantly sorting itself out 🌌♾️
@@lowtech42 Great minds think alike!
"By refusing to help me, you left me with the same choice I had to begin with, to try or not to try, to take a risk or to play it safe. And your arguments have reminded me how precious the right to choose is. Because I've never been one to play it safe. I choose to try." - Captain Jean-Luc Picard
to everyone scrolling, do yourself a favor and read forbidden manifestation by zara blackthorn. thank me later.
thanks
I got it, one of the best books ive ever read
great book, unfortunately this industry is all about profit, nothing more, nothing less
started reading it yesterday too
thanks
Lao Tzu's philosophy of not trying goes hand in hand with Transcendental Meditation, since one of the things they teach about TM is that the way to have a successful TM session is to not to try to clear your mind of your thoughts during your TM sessions, but to just allow your mind to have thoughts during TM since thoughts are a natural part of TM since engaging in TM isn't based on any type of effort other than just repeating your mantra inside your mind.
Flow state
I love this channel. It celebrates humanity, life, and our magical universe as a whole. Quantum mechanics/physics taught me to "see" beyond what I can see, hear, taste, and touch....and this channel helps me make sense of it all. Please keep doing what you do 👍 I wish everybody a happy and magical life 🙏
This is exactly what I needed for one of my clients who constantly battles with over-analysis and fear of failure.
They’ve spent years trying to "outperform" and "overcontrol" every situation, which only led to burnout and frustration.
When we started exploring the Taoist principle of Wu-Wei, they realized that by releasing control and letting things unfold naturally, they could actually achieve more with less effort.
The concept of becoming the "uncarved block" helped them find peace in simplicity and spontaneity. I’m beyond grateful for this video, as it reinforces the profound impact of practicing non-action!
the art in this one is BEAUTIFUL
Watched this video in the exact point of my life where I feel that my mind is taking control, mostly my anxiety. Thanks for doing this great illustration with soul soothing information ❤
I am now returning to these concepts after a period of forcing, trying, feeling my body literally get stiff as a result of trying to control.
My main takeaway is go from trying at life to simply experiencing it. Just receive and experience each day and decision as it comes. And be sincere and honest in your experiencing without pretense.
flow state is letting go of the ego driven self-centeredness and allowing life to unfold naturally. feels good man
Yup, to get into the flow state, you need to let go of the future, the past and yourself
Thank you so much for this video. Such a beautiful explanation and paired with gorgeous illustrations that really get the point through. It inspired me to try less hard and be more present. I will definetly save it for later when life carries me away and I get too try hard about whatever the next thing is. Thank you!
Lovely, very valuable. I practice and teach that striving, struggling contains resistance energies, resistance to Now, What Is that we're experiencing. It contains fear. And? The "U"niverse, Life,Tao, mirrors 'out there,' whatever we are being, 'in here,' within us. So what we resist, persists, as we inadvertently push away what we really want, keeping the carrot just out of our reach by default. Not doing, acceptance is a "yes" to life, "and" what comes next in our experience, will reflect this energy. As will "no," which is a "yes" to what isn't wanted...
A few months ago, I put out a poll asking, 'what great philosopher should After Skool cover?' Among names like Marcus Aurelius, Aristotle, Rumi, Confucius and many more, Lao Tzu received the vast majority of the votes. So I searched far and wide for content on Lao Tzu, and the best I found was from Einzelgänger. This collaboration took a ton of effort, but I truly believe it's the best video yet. It is one I will revisit frequently to maintain peace of mind. It was an honor to work with Einzelgänger. Please check out their channel. If you want to help create more animations like this, please support After Skool on Patreon. Thank you. One love. www.patreon.com/AfterSkool
Thank you! I absolutely love your channel! One of my favorites! 🫂
Awesomeness aplenty
Thank you for the collaboration and opportunity. It was great working with you, and I'm very impressed with the result!
This is pure gold 🟡
Please do Rumi 🙏❤️🔥🙏
Thank you for this collaboration. Genuinely love it when my fave TH-cam channels work together without anyone asking for it.
“You trust or you don’t” that’s such a good quote
My best lesson given to me by Master Rasaji was: Love them where they're at 💖. Let go let God. Blessings and peace to all. ❤
This is so appropriate and timely considering America’s current political situation. Thank you for this.
About to have a job interview, I have the tendency to be incredibly anxious about these things. But I just watched this video and I will do my best to let go. I don't think I will get the job anyway (I may not be quite qualified) but it will be a good learning experience. That is the perspective I will take.
Give yourself credit for trying, not succeeding.
We don't need to compete instead let's collaborate 😊.
Bless Us All 🙏
"In trust there is no trying- you trust or you dont" 🙏 ❤️
Love Lao Tzu … the Doa stories …
yrs of the Doa group… the more you try the more you cry, seems so …the way of it
“Stop thinking, and end your problems.” ~ Lao Tzu
Youd be brain dead by then
You can’t stop thinking, but you can observe your thoughts with discernment.
Pretend they dont exist, and dont solve them?
@@are_birds_real Thinking and worrying actually prevents you from taking action, effortlessly and without incessant thinking patterns that usually take energy away from working towards a real solution. If there is no real solution to work towards, you can accept it. Which will usually leave you less worried and able to take action if possible. The ego will say "if I don't worry all the time, we are doomed" in reality if you worry all the time you aren't present to actually improve your situation. Perception creates reality. Read the Tao Te Ching.
@@UltimateAwe I’ll be sure to let Lao Tzu know.
This channel has been so amazing to me as a dyslexic audio visual learner. Thank you this is beautiful ❤❤❤❤
"You tried your best and you failed miserably. The lesson is, never try." - Homer Simpson
Ha I love that episode
"Do or do not. There is no try.
" Yoda
2 animated charcters can't be wrong, can they? 😂
🤦♀️🤣
The only winning move is not to play!
"You're damned if you do and you're damned if you dont," - Bart Simpson
Thank you for this amazing Collab! Einzelgänger has been a constant watch for me as has after skool. Seeing this makes my soul happy. Cant wait for more :)
I found this approach very interesting, and it explains some abilities that I haven't been able to understand before. In board meetings or during both hostile and friendly negotiations, I have somehow always managed to come out on top. I leave a greater impression of establishing a more trustworthy truth by spontaneously reacting in a proactive and constructive manner, rather than directly trying to oppose and expose an opponent's true narratives or agenda.
I think the way it works is that I have never planned or rehearsed anything I intend to say. I am in a perfect state of flow without any form of inner dialogue, simply reacting in the moment as an observer to what is being said. I only speak or try to express an opinion when I truly have something to say, and this way, everything I say seems to have an impact and be decisive.
All this would probably come down like a house of cards if I tried to force it.
Two of my favourite channel collaborating.
Love the Tao! You cannot push water uphill. We do have will power, but we must not over control.
ok it was weird when i pulled out my tao te ching book to read for later before you even posted this video..now you show the Flow state book that i literally downloaded because a friend recommended it lmaooo! I am supposed to be here, I appreciate you!
Thank you! I very much needed this right now. A reminder to practice present moment awareness and trust in the universe ☯️
An outstanding collaboration between two awesome channels! Great job After Skool and Einzelgänger!🤩
In bad times, your channel is always a great help. Thank you.
A good teacher once told me "it's amazing what happens when you actually try". That advice stayed with me and there's no better feeling than the success that follows initiative and trial. I like Lao Tzu's message too, but ultimately I disagree. I wouldn't have the career I have nor most of my life's accomplishments without a lot of trying, 2nd attempts, 3rd attempts, forcing, asking, proving, pushing - it's called making things happen. "Not trying" is the default position - worse, most people actually create the illusion that they're working hard but are actually "not trying", getting the worst of both worlds.
non-action is not necessarily not trying, though I can kind of see how he made it seem like that. It’s more like doing without the burden of worry, you still try but you release any anxiety, stress, or need for control and simply put your trust in the universe.
Maybe in trying, you were simply following your "natural course" ie. "the dao".
Tao didn't preach not doing anything, it's doing things effortlessly
Sure you may have achieved stuff you couldn't have without effortlessness but it's all materialistic
"Not trying" can be misconstrued, it's more about being desireless - or pure motives.
Not trying TOO HARD
Thank you I needed to hear this… i often feel like I have to try hard, even when I know it won’t make a difference, but because I feel ashamed or judged for not trying.
The legend himself, Einzelganger!!!
Hi After Skool, I just wanted to tell you that your channel is a real gold mine !!! 🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏
Thank you. Much love 💚
"Your money is my money; my money is still my money" ~ Wo-man.
Excellent work
If you ever listen to anything while reading comments, let it be this - go to borlest and read the book whispers of manifestation, then come back and thank me
Behind a pay wall :( What is it about? Could I get some passages from the book to decide if I should buy it or not?
@@ron3799 people never stop all self-centeredness
@ron3799 they are abusing this space to peddle their bs, that's what it is about. This is essentially a scam message. Manifestation is a bizarre construct, according to which, if you think really hard about the think you want, e.g. money, it will manifest itself for you, you will "attract" it (of course, they may as well say "summon it"). It's like motivation books taken even further. It's completely anti-spiritual and anti-philosophical, lot of these fake gurus try to sell you a book that will make your dreams come true by simply concentrating on your dreams in your head (and often also paying them some form of contribution to help you manifest better). So his point is exactly, that you pay for this book.
It is a scam to sell you the book which promotes the charlatan concept of manifestation. I think he wants you to buy the book before you can see, what bizarre nonsense you bought @ron3799
@@ron3799 I think hes trying to scam people
beautiful job on narration and also loved the art style i seen a comment that said they learned more things on this channel than school has ever taught and i couldn't agree more reading + after skool is pure bliss shout out to yall
This is the philosophy that made Star Wars (pre-Disney) a beloved story. People intuitively know these eternal truths.
The music and the art are just delightful. I loved this! I can’t believe all this was done on a whiteboard. Just wonderful art! Thank you!
"Your mind is like this water, my friend. When it is agitated, it becomes difficult to see. But if you allow it to settle, the answer becomes clear." Master Oogway to Master Schifu
Amazing synthesis and visual representation of the priceless and timeless teachings! Thank you so much! giving a gift like that to humanity''s collective mind makes you ( guys) a gift to this world:)
Love both of these channels. Thank you for coming together for this!
Wow. This is everything! Text, narration, and illustrations all outstanding. Thank you, this is great.
Actually the art of not trying isn't about not trying but about not trying hard. The things you want badly can sometimes be obtained by trying softly. In my experience not trying at all is just as counterproductive as trying desperately. Both get you no results. Trying softly is in most cases the only good option.
Agreed.
Everything about this video is absolutely beautiful.
'I am nothing. Take away nothing and I am' - Me (or not me)
I'm going to need to listen to this many times.
Fully living this way takes mountains of trust when you are in the thick of it
@serendipity_coin exactly. In the end there's many ways to describe it but in the end we're talking of the same thing
Loved the clarity of explanations AND the artwork is beautiful and has life - energy exploding from it! Thanks!
"When nothing is done, nothing is left undone"
Excellent, so expectations don't paralyze us 😅
Story of my life 😅
is that how people end up in garbage heaps and dirt, because the trash doesn't take itself out and the house won't clean itself, no matter how many years they're practicing the splendid way of wuwei? ^^
@@Amphitera 😄
@@Amphitera totally . taoists are a real pain unless everyone does everything for them ..
Wow, this video is so well research and illustrated. Thank you for putting so much effort into sharing your wisdom in a concise and beautiful video.
Thank you I needed this.
The art in this video is so beautiful
Trusting the flow … is how you just found me 😂. Thank you perfect
The "true tao" must be form-less, yet influencing all forms, yes, as we might perceive from conscious awareness... Wu Wei... in the Flow of Things... surrender... action that says "yes" to what is perceived, then adds "and..." to it... again, again, again.... Blessings, thank you
Control what you can and make peace with the rest
Best advice ❤
U cant tell that to a person dying due to cancer at a young age
@silentstrategist07 I don't think there's anything you can say to anyone that is going to die. Its beyond words. You would talk through your heart.
@@MJZero7 it is only when youre facing death that you can truly let go
Right, so when what you can't control oppresses you and tries to take away your freedom you should just make peace with it, bend over and take it happily?
My word, so many beautiful drawings. That alone is enough to stun.
Alan Watts' autobiography, In My Own Way, is, imo, his best, most enjoyable book.
Interesting thank u
Seeing Einzelganger on this channel made my day. Truly amazing ❤ his content is beautiful
Nature always wins ... go with the flow. I was explaining the rules of the road to my grandkids and consider DO NOT INTERRUPT THE FLOW OF TRAFFIC a top rule. I live near Radium Hot Springs BC where they just put in a traffic circle ... there use to be a 4 way stop. Of course traffic coming from AB is high on Friday and going back to AB on Sunday so the circle is much better and accommodates this rule. It's the same with life where forgiveness is a top rule of mine now whereas I use to hold grudges but that just took up too much space in my head.
I lived in Edmonton AB when they had traffic circles everywhere and then they took them all out, not sure why. I remember my kids telling me that my brother had my car and them and was suppose to pick me up but was early so he kept going around the circle because they said 'Go around again'!
Thank you for these wonderful thought provoking videos!!!
Great analogy and good move! From AB to BC👍 I went the wrong way… from AB to SK lol 🤷🏼♀️
Bc wooo@@TheThora17
@@leahsieler1114 lol
Thank you. This was much-needed in a moment of intense confusion for me.
I’m hesitant to post this, but what the hell, here goes nothing 😊. I’ll try and keep it short!
I have a friend who spent 10 years in a monastery in India, meditating 10 to 18 hours a day, seven days a week, for the entire 10 years. One day as he was sitting down to meditate, he experienced enlightenment. After he left the monastery, he traveled around the world for two years looking for people that were in the same state of consciousness. He only found four or five, but they all basically said the same thing. I’ll paraphrase what he told me here:
There is no separate ‘you’. What appears to be a separate individual is simply what he called the ‘I’ thought, which is really what an ego is. It’s the thought/feeling that there is an individual ‘you’ deciding and choosing ways of being. According to him, there is not. Free will is an illusion. You can’t control all of your thoughts and actions, because there is no controller. This is what Lao Tzu really meant in the Tao Te Ching when he wrote ‘work without working’, and this is why it’s been so hard to understand his teachings for thousands of years. All of life is just happening.
Buddha was very clear about this though. He clearly stated “deeds are being done, but no doer is to be found.” Jesus said ‘I and the Father are one.’
And so are ‘you’, one with God/the Dao/Brahma…. Or whatever you choose to call it.
It is self-governing, and therefore moving every cell in your body and every planet in the universe, and everything in between. It is perfectly balanced, always.
My friend told me what happened to him, and the enlightened people he met, was that thought just stopped completely, and they saw the world for what it really is: One eternal now, self-governing, perfectly balanced…everything is God, including you who are reading this.
He went on to say there is nothing to get enlightened about, except to understand that you already are .
Ultimately, he said ‘thought is the real devil.’ No thought, no you….so there is peace.
I recently asked him ‘if this is the truth, and it has been taught clearly many times, why is it that so few people know about this? He told me the human mind, especially the ego, cannot accept the fact that it doesn’t actually exist, so people have built up entire religions around misunderstandings of these teachings, and here we are.
This is his direct quote: “At the moment of dissolution, the final thought is that there has never been anyone home, ever! Not in you or anyone else. Everything is eternal, silent, intelligent energy, and all objects are mere appearances, like mirages. There is only the eternal moment with no individuals anywhere. The ego does not dissolve, it is seen by the no-one to have never been there in the first place. Obviously difficult to describe with a dualistic language. This is not some experience. There is no one left to experience anything, and a knowingness there has never been anyone there. This knowingness appears to no one. Some have called it perfect, brilliant stillness, and everything is it. When there is waking up from a dream, the dreamer dissolves also because the dreamer was an illusion.”
I understand this sounds crazy to most of you reading this. If 10,000 people read this comment maybe one or two of you will actually accept what it’s saying, or possibly already know this. It takes a tremendous amount of study in most cases, or as my friend said, most people try really hard for a really long time, and when they eventually give up, that’s when they understand.
Or you might want to try taking a bunch of psychedelics and crossing your fingers.😂 Or listen to Alan Watts talk entitled ‘you are God’ repeatedly. He says this all most eloquently!
So relax, your consciousness is forever 😊. Everything else is in a constant state of change, including your body, thoughts, and feelings. There is no doer, and the Dao is running everything. There is one eternal present moment, in a perfect state of balance.
If you are fortunate enough that your mind really quiets down,you will understand this for yourself. 😊
Thank you for posting, I have copied this to read again so that the words can sink in...and if you feel called to do something, please don't ignore it as there will be someone who needs to hear your message. I needed this reminder, thank you.
@@Sakura-cd7bh Thank you! I just added something he wrote to me recently, if you’re interested 🫠
The Dow is most fascinating to read.
Rule not by Force but by Universal organic FLOW. I love this. The way resonates with me.
Stop pushing, forcing a sq peg into a Round hole 🎯♾️💚🤗 Thank you, I own the book & I’m 13:21 reading this vital practice. 💯
This is all very well and beautiful, but it doesn't resolve the fact that we slaughter animals to eat and that genocides are taking place right now. I think you would find it hard to explain to the recipients (both animals and people) of horrible violence, pain and suffering that it's really ok, because "you have no ego" and "it's all an illusion, maya" etc.
@@lukehunnable I agree, so I asked my friend about this. He referred me to the Bhagavad Gita, explaining how it mostly takes place on a battlefield. Arjuna the archer looks across the battlefield and sees friends and family members on the other side, and he breaks down at the thought of killing them. Krishna (God incarnate) tells Arjuna ‘it has already been done’ (meaning they are already dead), and basically to quit sniveling and be the warrior that he has made him to be. Somehow this enlightened Arjuna on the spot, and he got up and slaughtered thousands.
In my friend’s exact words: ‘spirituality being focused solely on peace and love is bullsh*t. It’s an incorrect teaching!’
Alan Watts used to refer to the fact that competition for resources in nature creates conflict, but that conflict creates balance.
There is no ‘doer’ doing any of those things you mention. Suffering is part of life. Buddha’s realization is that there is ‘I’ who suffers, which is ultimately how suffering ends. The body can suffer, and thoughts can be of suffering, but it’s not happening to any individual, because there is none.
It’s all just happening, and if someone is depressed, kills an animal or a person, that is all just happening spontaneously as well. As is the reaction of those who are suffering.
I asked my friend why this is the way it is here, and he said ‘the vibration here is just SO low!’
Maybe one day humans will evolve beyond all this, and I truly hope for that. My friend said the best thing to do is to meditate, because by allowing peace within, that peace is what you contribute to the consciousness of humanity.
Uber Fantastic! Very, very artistically done! A brilliant work in both artistic expression and reflective content.
Always good to be reminded of this!
🙏🏻❤️😊
Such a beautiful piece. Thank you so much for this.
This could actually make people respond in a way that seems effortlessly right. Don’t do nothing, but do what feels right at the moment.
This leads to more compassionate and natural actions and responses according to what situation you see yourself in. Wow.
I enjoyed this, especially the beautiful illustrations. Thank you.
I'm already a master of this at work
Now I know that someone I never knew needs me to know that they know. Why did you need to share this? Regardless, here is a medal 🏅
Love this and am trying to live my life more in this way. The more I trust and let go, the more it seems to work. The animation on this is beautiful and inspiring too, thanks!
My two favourite channels collaborating! Gentlemen, this was awesome. Salutations.
The art work was magnificent! Well done.
After reading Marshall Summers’ work over and over again it is fascinating to watch this video uniting the golden pieces of wisdom throughout the human history - in the end there is one phenomenon, the one truth.
This video is beautiful in every way. Thank you.
I love your team red vs team blue Yin Yang at the beginning!
I spend countless hours trying to get people to look beyond such false dichotomies.
We only hurt ourselves by reinforcing such divides
But it seems so plain and simple, is so easy to follow... too bad, so many people fall for this.
@@LittleHeyoka It's simple and basic but not easy because society dichotomizes and side tracks us ... we've been duped in so many ways but especially the birthday con-cept
@@LittleHeyoka They don't fall for it they like it. People like conflict. If you're born into a wealthy family like Lao Tzu, maybe your philosophy is to tell everyone to slow down and stop trying. If you're born into a poor family, maybe your philosophy is to create your own reality, to make things happen, etc. It depends on what will be good for you. Lao Tzu's philosophy is really bad advice for the underdog.
@@bennyskim how can you say Lao Tzu qas born into a wealthy family, if it is not even proven until today, that he actually existed. There are no documents, no texts, that report of him or his work.
Do you know what Lao Tzu actually means?
@@bennyskim Again you have made a struggle by making "poverty" into a problem; you have equated money with contentedness and well-being. The poor man who is in that state of Wu-Wei is no poor man at all; the entire world bows before him
That was so beautiful, i needed this. 😢
Thank you so much.
"Do or do not, there is no try." - Master Yoda
My theme right now 💯
a large amount of people that watched star wars don't know that george lucas was heavily inspired by asian philosophy
I think the flow state would have something to do with the force too. "Be like the water. The water erodes Boulders."
tell that to the bone thugs and akon
I quoted that to my friend on the phone the other day and he laughed and said: No, all there is, is try because nothing is set in stone. So now, I dont know what to believe.
I love the combination of the speaker with the evolving animations, it feels like watching a cartoon!
Beautifully said and explained, thanks! ❤
some of these illustrations are absolutely beautiful
We know it's a great week when After School drops
this is one of the most important videos i've watched in my entire tiny life
Ive been fofllowing @Einzelgänger for years now really glad to watch this one. thank you afterskool!
Beautiful video. It helped ease my mind, thank you very much.
Awesome to see a collaboration of these two excellent channels!!
Perfect Timing. Thank You, AS
What beautiful illustrations by After Skool. Im speechless.
Thank you for mentioning Csikszentmihaly! I was always looking for how the flow state idea entered the modern west, read a lot of mystics plus adorno and nishida and their pupils, but couldn't find anything related to psychology or neuroscience on that topic!
"those who know do not speak,
those who speak do not know"
-tao te ching #56
So does this mean you do not know😂