The Way of Nature · Friendly Version¶

For readers new to Lifechanyuan's ideas

A Question Worth Sitting With¶

Why do some people spend years in intensive spiritual practice — following strict disciplines, seeking teachers, performing rituals — and yet feel no closer to what they were seeking?

Xuefeng's answer is clear:

"Why do so many who have devoted enormous effort to seeking the Tao or seeking Buddha ultimately fail to attain it? Because they did not strictly follow the Way of Nature."

So what is the Way of Nature? At its simplest: go with the natural flow — don't force, don't strain, don't contort yourself or others.

The Most Important Equation¶

Lifechanyuan offers a single, clear statement that contains the entire concept:

The Way of Nature is the Way of the Greatest Creator, and the Way of the Greatest Creator is the Way of Nature.

What this means: the highest law of the universe is not hidden in a secret doctrine or accessible only to masters. It is written in the natural world itself — in how rivers flow, how seasons change, how fruit ripens. Whoever aligns with that natural movement is walking the Tao. Whoever forces against it is departing from it.

What Did Laozi Really Mean?¶

The ancient Chinese philosopher Laozi wrote a phrase that has fascinated readers for thousands of years: dào fǎ zìrán — often translated as "the Tao follows nature" or "the Tao emulates nature."

Xuefeng offers a different reading:

If "the Tao emulates nature," that would be like saying the brain must follow orders from the hands and feet — turning the relationship upside down. The correct reading is: "The Tao's law is revealed through nature." Nature is how the Tao shows itself, not the Tao's teacher.

In practical terms: the natural state of things is the Tao's content. A human being who eats, rests, loves, and works — that's in accord with the Tao. A human being who suppresses all natural functions in search of some extraordinary state — that's departing from the Tao.

The Four Natural Alignments¶

Xuefeng describes walking the Way of Nature through four simple postures:

At ease wherever you are — no demanding that circumstances be other than they are
Adapting naturally to each situation — letting each encounter unfold without a fixed agenda
Acting from your innate nature — not performing a role but expressing who you genuinely are
Responding to what arises — not planning in advance, but meeting what comes as it comes

These four together — often called the Four Alignments (sì suí) — are the Way of Nature in daily life.

Simpler Than You Might Think¶

Lifechanyuan's approach to cultivation is radically simple:

"Walking the Way of the Greatest Creator is the lightest, simplest, most direct, and most effective approach. There is no need for prohibitions and rules, scripture chanting, cultivation of supernatural powers, or seeking masters everywhere. Simply align with nature, and all is accomplished."

Everything you need has already been given to you. The desire for more — for special powers, secret techniques, extraordinary abilities — is actually a departure from the Way of Nature, not a deeper approach to it.

As Laozi himself observed: "The great Tao is level and easy, but people love to take shortcuts." The real path is simpler than the detours people take looking for it.

But Don't Confuse Natural Alignment With Passivity¶

Aligning with nature doesn't mean doing nothing. It means combining:

Conscious effort: tend to what's in front of you, plant and water and care for what grows
Natural unfolding: trust that "the melon falls when it's ripe, the water arrives when the channel is ready"

Forcing and rushing will only produce anxiety and the opposite of what you intend. Patience and engagement together — that's the Way of Nature in action.

Three Ways It Shows Up in Life¶

The Way of Nature isn't just an inner state. It shapes how we live together:

Among people: bring others joy, freedom, and wellbeing — not control, not obligation

In society: share resources, support one another, think of all humanity as one family — not competing for position or advantage

With the natural world: use what nature provides, work with its rhythms — not conquer, not transform, not exploit

These three together describe what a truly natural human life looks like.

Where to Begin¶

No initiation required. No special setting needed.

Just ask yourself, as often as you can: am I going with the natural flow right now, or am I forcing something?

If you're forcing — pause. See if there's a lighter way.

If you're aligned — continue. That's it.

The Way of Nature is not far. It's as close as your next breath.

For source texts and deeper analysis, see the Internal Reference or Academic Version.