“Confucianists declined to look closely at nature. Daoists were not only good observers, but rose above human-centered utilitarianism…. In pursuing their study of nature ('nature' in Chinese is tzu-jan, self-so, self-thus, that which is self-maintaining and spontaneous) into human nature and the dark interior of phenomena, the Daoist writers stress softness, ignorance, the flow, a wise receptivity; silence. They bring forward a critical paradox; namely, thermal physical energy flows into unavailability and is lost apparently forever: entropy. Life appears to be an intricate strategy to delay and make use of this flow. But what might be called 'spiritual' energy often grows in strength only when you 'let go' — give up — 'cast off body and mind' — become one with the process.”