📖 Meaning
A Buddhist term referring to the abandonment of all worldly appearances and the cessation of artificial, ego-driven actions. In a broader sense, it describes a state of genuine spontaneity where one does not engage in empty talk or contrived pursuits.
📜 Origin Story
This idiom originates from Mahayana Buddhist philosophy, where 无相 (wú xiāng, formlessness) and 无作 (wú zuò, non-action) are fundamental concepts tied to the teaching of emptiness (śūnyatā). 无相 refers to the insight that all phenomena lack inherently distinguishable characteristics, while 无作 denotes freedom from deliberate striving driven by attachment or ego. Together they describe an enlightened state of awareness in which one transcends fixation on appearances and ceases artificial effort. The phrase encapsulates core Buddhist teachings on non-attachment found in scriptures such as the Diamond Sutra and the Vimalakirti Sutra.
💡 Example Usage
高僧修行数十载，终悟无相无作之境。
After decades of spiritual practice, the eminent monk finally attained the state of formlessness and non-action.
🏷️ Category
➕ Similar Idioms
➖ Opposite Idioms
🔤 Quick Facts
- Chinese: 无相无作
- Pinyin: wú xiāng wú zuò
- Literal Translation: no form, no action
- Category: Philosophy
- Characters: 4