Stillness Speaks

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“Wei Wu Wei” was born as Terence James Stannus Gray in 1895 into a well-established Irish family, was raised on an estate outside Cambridge, England, and received a thorough education, including studies at Oxford University. Early in life he pursued an interest in Egyptology, which culminated in 1923 in the publication of two books on ancient Egyptian history and culture.

This was followed by a period of involvement in the arts in Britain in the 20’s and 30’s as a theorist, theatrical producer, creator of radical “dance-dramas,” publisher of several related magazines, and author of two related books. He was a major influence on many noted dramatists, poets, and dancers of the day, including his cousin Ninette de Valois, founder of the Royal Ballet (which in fact had its origins in his own dance troupe at the Cambridge Festival Theatre which he leased from 1926-33).

After he had exhausted his interest in this field, his thoughts turned towards philosophy and metaphysics. This led to a period of travel throughout Asia, including time spent at Sri Ramana Maharshi’s ashram in Tiruvannamalai, India. In 1958, at the age of 63, he saw the first of the Wei Wu Wei titles published. The next 16 years saw the appearance of seven subsequent books, including his final work under the further pseudonym O.O.O. in 1974.

During most of this later period he maintained a residence with his wife in Monaco. He is believed to have known, among others, Lama Anagarika Govinda, Dr. Hubert Benoit, John Blofeld, Douglas Harding, Robert Linssen, Arthur Osborne, Robert Powell, Francis Lucille, Jean Klein and Dr. D. T. Suzuki.  He died in 1986 at the age of 90.

Books by Wei Wu Wei:

  • Ask the Awakened: The Negative Way
  • Fingers Pointing towards the Moon: Reflections of a Pilgrim on the Way
  • Why Lazarus Laughed: The Essential Doctrine Zen-Advaita-Tantra
  • All Else Is Bondage: Non-Volitional Living
  • Open Secret
  • The Tenth Man
  • Posthumous Pieces
  • Unworldly Wise: As the Owl Remarked to the Rabbit

Selections from Wei Wu Wei’s book: “Open Secret”

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