Laozi: The Art of Effortless Living

​What if trying harder isn’t always the answer?

We spend much of our lives striving to achieve more, control more, and become more.

But what if the secret to living well is knowing when to stop striving?

The Tao Te Ching, traditionally attributed to Laozi, offers one of philosophy’s most radical answers: Live simply, act without forcing, and learn to move with the natural order rather than against it.

Join us as we explore three questions:

What is the Dao? Understanding the Way and our place within it.
What is effortless action? The paradox of wu wei: achieving without forcing.
How can we live more simply? Desire, contentment, humility, and freedom.

How It Works

We’ll begin with a short, accessible lecture, followed by guided readings and small-group philosophical discussions.

Rather than simply listening to philosophy, you’ll have the opportunity to practice it with others.

No prior knowledge required. All readings provided.

​Reading Materials

​You can access the Tao Te Ching here:

​Read the Tao Te Ching — Project Gutenberg

​You can also watch the accompanying video here:

​Watch the video

About Your Instructor

Cole Whetstone studied ancient philosophy at Harvard and Oxford and founded the New York Philosophical Society, a community of more than 50,000 members dedicated to bringing philosophy into everyday life.

Come ready to read, think, and discuss.