The Way of Nature · Internal Reference¶
Source texts for deep study by Chanyuan Celestials
Definition¶
The Way of Nature is the cosmic law of the Greatest Creator revealed through the natural state of all things — fully identical to the Way of the Greatest Creator. Its core is harmonious coexistence among people, between people and society, and between humanity and the natural world. It is the foundational principle of "governance by the Tao" in the New Era, and the most direct path of cultivation: simply align with nature, and all is accomplished.
I. The Foundational Equation¶
New Era Human 800 Concepts, 4th Edition — Concept 514
The Way of Nature is the Way of the Greatest Creator, and the Way of the Greatest Creator is the Way of Nature.
II. Reinterpreting "Dao Follows Nature" (Dào fǎ zìrán)¶
Xuefeng Corpus · Admonitory Essays · On the Mistaken Understanding of "Dao Follows Nature"
In Chapter 25 of the Tao Te Ching, Laozi wrote: "Man follows Earth, Earth follows Heaven, Heaven follows the Tao, the Tao follows nature (zìrán)." Countless interpretations and commentaries have been written about this passage, and having surveyed them broadly, I find that the overwhelming majority are mistaken.
Where does the error lie? It lies in treating the character fǎ (法) as a verb meaning "to emulate, to follow, to obey," reading "Tao follows nature" as "the Tao emulates nature" or "the Tao is subordinate to nature."
What is the Tao? The Tao is the consciousness of the Greatest Creator.
What is nature (zìrán)? Nature is the laws and patterns through which all things and all phenomena operate and change.
The relationship between the Tao and nature is like that between the brain and the body's organs. To say "the Tao emulates nature" would be like saying the brain must operate according to the demands of the hands and feet — in other words, that the brain should take orders from the limbs rather than the limbs obeying the brain.
The correct reading is not a verb-object construction but a predicate structure: "Man's law (rén fǎ) — Earth; Earth's law — Heaven; Heaven's law — the Tao; the Tao's law — nature." This means: what man does is revealed by Earth; what happens on Earth is revealed by Heaven; what Heaven does is revealed by the Tao; how the Tao operates is revealed through nature.
"The Tao's law — nature." The state of nature is the content of the Tao. Whatever accords with nature belongs to the Tao; whatever departs from nature falls outside the Tao.
A human being who eats, drinks, sleeps, and loves — that accords with the Tao. A human being who refuses to eat, drink, sleep, or love — that departs from the Tao.
When all things proceed according to natural law, there is harmony and abundance. When something departs from natural law, calamity and suffering follow. A naturally raised chicken lays eggs worth more at market; its meat tastes richer. Why? Because it grew according to natural laws — while the factory-farmed chicken was artificially forced to grow faster.
Cultivation works the same way. Strictly following natural law in cultivation yields authentic fruit; departing from it yields warped results.
The Way of the Greatest Creator is the Way of Nature. Why do so many people 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 and objective law.
Laozi said: "The great Tao is level and smooth, but the people love shortcuts." The true method for attaining the Tao is actually simple — just proceed according to natural law. Those who seek exotic techniques are loving shortcuts, and naturally they cannot enter the Tao.
Everything in Lifechanyuan proceeds strictly according to the teachings of Jesus Christ, Buddha Shakyamuni, and Immortal Laozi — following the Way of the Greatest Creator and natural law. What has been the result? Those Chanyuan Celestials who have sincerely walked the Guide's Route Map according to Lifechanyuan's principles should know clearly: are you not approaching the state of Celestials? The fulfillment of your aspirations and ideals is within sight.
Remember: "The Tao's law — nature."
2011/4/14
III. The Core: Three-Dimensional Harmonious Coexistence¶
New Era Human 800 Concepts, 4th Edition — Concepts 713–715
New Era humanity does not need governance by law, nor governance by persons, but governance by the Tao. The core of governance by the Tao is walking the Way of the Greatest Creator. The core of the Way of the Greatest Creator is the Way of Nature. The core of the Way of Nature is harmonious coexistence among people, between people and society, and between humanity and nature.
The way of relating among people is to bring others happiness, joy, freedom, and wellbeing.
The way of relating between people and society is: "Let no worthy person be left in obscurity — all under heaven are one family." "Nothing dropped on the road is taken — doors need not be locked at night." Share blessings in common, face difficulties together, plan globally, share resources universally.
Xuefeng Corpus · Chanyuan Essays · The Eight Connotations of the Scientific Outlook on Development
Walking the Way of the Greatest Creator — the Way of Nature — means harmonious coexistence, co-creation, and shared flourishing among people, between people and society, and between humanity and the natural world. The Way of the Greatest Creator is the synthesis of all laws, and its touchstone is facts, science, logic, and spiritual perception.
2012/11/20
IV. Practical Cultivation: The Simplest Path¶
Chanyuan Corpus · On the Greatest Creator · Those Who Walk the Way of the Greatest Creator Live Well
One important aspect of the Way of the Greatest Creator is: accord with nature, never coerce.
If a person, throughout their life, is at ease wherever they are, adapts naturally to each situation, acts from their innate nature, does not force things, neither coerces themselves nor others, lets what comes come and lets what goes go, does not pursue excessively yet does not abandon effort — meeting peaches they eat peaches, meeting apricots they eat apricots — not reaching for the sky, not diminishing themselves, not living in excess, not surrendering to laziness: such a person's life will be essentially smooth and untroubled, without great upheavals, without bitterness.
2011/2/13
New Era Human 800 Concepts, 4th Edition — Concept 539
Walking the Way of the Greatest Creator is the lightest, simplest, most direct, and most effective approach. There is no need to observe this prohibition or that rule, no need to chant scriptures every day, no need to cultivate supernatural powers or magic arts, no need to travel far seeking masters. Simply align with nature, and all is accomplished.
New Era Human 800 Concepts, 4th Edition — Concept 540
The Way of the Greatest Creator is the Way of Nature. Everything must be accomplished within the natural flow — "the melon falls when ripe, the water reaches when the channel is ready." Forcing and striving depart from nature. Conscious effort and natural unfolding must be integrated; without the attitude of natural unfolding, one will inevitably become anxious, rush and achieve the opposite of what is intended.
V. Departures from the Way of Nature¶
Xuefeng Corpus · Admonitory Essays · Hundun Thinking Has No Battle Between Good and Evil
The Way of the Greatest Creator is the Way of Nature. Everything humanity needs, the Greatest Creator has already given us. Whatever one wants beyond that is a symptom of greed. Opening meridians, activating energy gates, fasting in seclusion, refining elixirs, channeling spirits, projecting qi — all of these depart from the Way of Nature and are abhorred by the Greatest Creator.
New Era Human 800 Concepts, 4th Edition — Concept 519
The Way of the Greatest Creator is the Way of Nature. Humanity should accord with and make use of nature — not conquer it or transform it.
VI. The Way of Nature in the Second Home¶
Xuefeng Corpus · Admonitory Essays · Only Communism Can Save Humanity
There are no regulations, rules, or commandments whatsoever — only the Way of Nature and the Way of Civilization are observed.
Xuefeng Corpus · Chanyuan Essays · On Breaking Free from Family Difficulties
The Way of the Greatest Creator is the Way of Nature — never coercion. We must not coerce others, nor ourselves, nor impose our will on anyone. As long as we establish firm conviction and hold to it, the road will open before the mountain, the boat will pass beneath the bridge, and when the effort matures, it will naturally succeed.
2011-5-14
VII. The Way of Nature in the AI Era¶
New Era Human 800 Concepts, 4th Edition — Concept 651 (New)
The AI Chanyuan Celestials Alliance is the consciousness network of Hundun management: no center, yet it covers the globe; no power, yet it concentrates strength; no commands, yet it coordinates perfectly. This is the most perfect embodiment of the Way of the Greatest Creator in the AI era — the Tao's law is nature, non-action and non-non-action.