How to Get a Proper Job in Taoism

Taoism teaches balance and non-striving.

Taoism is a Chinese philosophy that teaches peace of mind and a trust in the perfection of present reality. One of the central concepts of Taoism is called "wu-wei," a term that can be roughly translated as "non-striving" or "without a path." Masters of wu-wei glide through life by following their natural fate and not fighting against the directions where they are led. This philosophy is very different from that of the modern employment system, but can be used effectively in the today's fast-paced world by people who maintain their self-awareness and peace of mind.

Instructions

Know Yourself

1. Investigate your own values and motivations in a deep way through meditation or the spiritual path of your choice. Ask yourself probing questions about why you desire a certain job or position.

2. Pursue employment based on what your real self desires. Don't get involved in work that is meaningless or unpleasant to you solely for the sake of money, social recognition or prestige. Don't take a job because your parents, wife or friends want you to. Listen to your own heart. You only can do this after you have learned how to hear it.

3. Allow jobs to come to you naturally by being yourself. Develop awareness of how you interact with co-workers, employers and people who may be useful in your job search. Remain open to unexpected and seemingly meaningless coincidences. Follow up on leads that feel instinctively significant to you.

Practice Wu-Wei

1. Avoid forcing yourself into a position that doesn't come naturally. The practice of wu-wei involves floating through life in the same way that a leaf floats down a river. If you feel that you are stuck in a backwater, learn everything you can about that backwater. It's your life at this moment.

2. Keep your eyes open at all times, metaphorically speaking. Finding a job in a Taoist manner doesn't mean being passive, it means taking advantage of opportunities when they present themselves. Think of yourself as a sailboat. Don't sail against the wind, but when the right wind comes along, don't forget to raise your sails.

3. Treat everyone around you as though they are aspects of yourself, because they are. Exercise universal compassion, and don't get too obsessed with your own personal advancement or position. Use whatever power or prestige you gain in the working world to make the world more pleasant and happy for all beings, human and nonhuman.

References

• Why Work: The Taoist Concept of Wu-Wei
• Tao Practice: Tao at Work; James Tu
• The Chronicle of Higher Education: Taoism and the Job Market; B. Ho, May 2006