Comments on: Wei Wu Wei

Wei Wu Wei

fcummins — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 12:58:42 -0800

Terence Gray was an English born aristocrat of an Irish family. He tried his hand at Egyptology, drama and theater, but gave it up to keep the family vineyards in the Monaco. He owned the winner of the 1957 Ascot Gold cup. He also became a mystic.

Writing as Wei Wu Wei, he produced 8 little books between 1958 and 1974. They are articulate, witty, and above all informed by a vast knowledge of Zen, Taoist and Hindu intellectual tradition. Beholden to none, he makes increasing sense in a modern context. Many of his insights are very close to some current views within cognitive science and the philosophy of mind. But cognitive science has flirted with Buddhism before.

By: Narual

Narual — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 13:33:14 -0800

Years ago, I had a vanity plate for my car. Because "WU WEI" was taken, I had them do "WU WEI 1". For years, I used this plate and had the very occasional comment or smile from someone who recognized the words. Then one day, some redneck asked me "Hey, whatcha win??" I was confused. "What??" "Yer car! It says 'Woowee, I won!'" I dropped the plate the next year.

By: RussHy

RussHy — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 13:33:52 -0800

Hey, some of this stuff is good! Thanks.

By: saulgoodman

saulgoodman — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 13:48:47 -0800

Wow. This is fascinating stuff. I've often seen interesting quotes attributed to Wei Wu Wei, but I never knew the story behind the guy. Thanks fcummins.

By: findango

findango — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 14:18:11 -0800

Thanks for the links -- I read some of his books years ago, and this is a good reminder to go back to them for another look. Douglas Harding is another interesting, Western, perspective on some aspects of Zen.

By: njohnson23

njohnson23 — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 14:19:58 -0800

His books are like short, pithy kicks to the head... Ask the Awakened is a good start. This is not westernized, pop-zen. Everything you know is wrong. Even that...

By: Burhanistan

Burhanistan — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 14:29:03 -0800

See J. Krishnamurti for a more lucid rendering.

By: fcummins

fcummins — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 14:42:17 -0800

That Douglas Harding link looks great. Thanks.

By: goethean

goethean — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 15:15:48 -0800

Also similar: Nisargadatta Maharaj

By: sneebler

sneebler — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 06:13:13 -0800

Harding also has a website.