My story.

I think that you are both missing the point that is being made in Chapter 20: Get Rid of Learning.

Get rid of learning and there will be no anxiety warns us not to think too hard about the Tao. Taoism is not to be learned from books it can only be experienced.

You fall in a river

SPLASH!

Do you think H2O or do you feel wet?

That is the difference between studying Taoism and experiencing the Tao.


The Tao Te Ching also tells us:-
The tao that can be spoken is not the eternal tao
The tao that can be named it not the eternal name

Trying to understand the Tao through thought and word are both doomed to end in failure as the only way you can become one with it is through action and experience.
How do you experience the Tao then?
Easy; live a simple life that is in harmony with nature.

Wu-wei or the practice of doing by not-doing is not advocating laziness or literally not doing anything. Instead it reminds us that by doing things in harmony with nature things will be acomplished with greater ease than through struggling to do something in an unnatural manner. It is better to think of it as effortless doing rather than doing nothing.
It is possible to see this principle in action if you have ever watched a master craftsmen at work. They make their craft look easy because they are in harmony with their tools and materials.

None of this can be learned from books however books can open your mind to the wonders of the Tao. It is wise to think of the Taoist classics as being mere signposts on the Way rather than the destination itself.

It is possible to see this principle in action if you have ever watched a master craftsmen at work. They make their craft look easy because they are in harmony with their tools and materials.

None of this can be learned from books

I disagree. For instance, a track athlete needs knowledge to put together a proper eating plan, exercise regimen, etc. An athlete with no anatomical knowledge would be no match for one who knows about (and uses the knowledge of) anatomy. How could a swimmer without knowledge of fluid dynamics swim quickly through the water?

Of course we do have the situation that coaches are available for hire, but a good coach is knowledgable. It the tao te ching is true, there would be no need for coaches at all. Do you really think that's true?

verty wrote:I disagree. For instance, a track athlete needs knowledge to put together a proper eating plan, exercise regimen, etc. An athlete with no anatomical knowledge would be no match for one who knows about (and uses the knowledge of) anatomy. How could a swimmer without knowledge of fluid dynamics swim quickly through the water?

Does the swimmer think about fluid dynamics while swimming or, with practice, are they able to get rid of learning and swim efficiently without thought?
It is true that knowledge is required to master a skill however no skill can be mastered without practice and experience.
It is only possible to learn principles from books. Experience always surpasses what can be learned through studying.

Verty wrote:Of course we do have the situation that coaches are available for hire, but a good coach is knowledgable. If the tao te ching is true, there would be no need for coaches at all. Do you really think that's true?

Teachers are useful because they have mastered their craft through experience however a student can only apply their teachings through practice. Practical experience is always the most important aspect of learning.

The true master of a craft enters a state where actions happen naturally without thought. Their mind and body so in tune with their craft that no effort is wasted.
Only when they get rid of learning do they enter this state of no-mind.

The true master of a craft enters a state where actions happen naturally without thought.

That makes them inflexible. You often find an athlete who gets a new coach and suddenly finds extra speed or distance, while their actions were perfectly fluid and autonomous before that. They become accomplished at their technique, but it makes them inflexible.

verty wrote:

The true master of a craft enters a state where actions happen naturally without thought.

That makes them inflexible.

Far from making them inflexible it allows them to adapt to new circumstances without stress. It is the person who has not yet mastered their craft who hesitates and becomes inflexible.
A good example would be learning to swim. At first great fear and lack of coordination causes you to panic and struggle in the water. A skilled swimmer becomes one with the water and flows through it without thought.

Verty wrote:You often find an athlete who gets a new coach and suddenly finds extra speed or distance, while their actions were perfectly fluid and autonomous before that. They become accomplished at their technique, but it makes them inflexible.

A runner may appear perfectly fluid to the untrained eye however if a good coach is able to see flaws in their technique the runner can not be considered perfectly fluid. Only when the student has truly mastered their technique are they truly fluid and autonomous.
Successful athletes often refer to being "in the zone" when they score or win a race. Is this not the same state that Zen Buddhists know as no-mind?