What is Nature in Taoism? 什么是自然
Paul PengWhat is Nature in Taoism?
Nature is both Taoism’s expression of the Dao and a foundation of its cultivation theories.
The Taoist concept of Nature derives from the philosophical ideas of Laozi and Zhuangzi.
Laozi used "Nature" to expound the essence of the Dao and De, and established it as the guiding principle for human conduct.
What is Nature in Taoism?
Chapter 25 of the Dao De Jing states: *"Man models himself on the earth, the earth models itself on heaven, heaven models itself on the The Dao, and the Dao models itself on Nature."* He Shang Gong’s commentary notes: "The nature of the Dao is spontaneous and natural; it has no model to follow."
The Dao’s generation of all things, as well as the activities of heaven, earth and humanity, all take natural non-action as their guiding principle. The sublimity of the Dao and the nobility of De lie in their being unconstrained by anything and abiding in Nature at all times. All things between heaven and earth exist and operate of their own accord, taking "non-action" as the law. One must follow the inherent nature of all things, refrain from willful contrivance, and not be bound by the will of anthropomorphic deities. Zhuangzi further developed Laozi’s idea of Nature: in his Heavenly Movement and Cultivating One’s Nature, he argued that responding to all things with nature leads to the state of ultimate joy. One should not extinguish the natural way for the sake of human artifice, but instead act without contrivance and let nature take its course, unconditionally uniting with nature. To achieve this is to become a "Perfect Person". Taoism expanded on the thoughts of Laozi and Zhuangzi, evolving a sophisticated concept of Nature with multiple connotations:
-
Nature is the ultimate source from which the Dao arises. The Classic of the Ascension to the West states: Emptiness gives birth to Nature, and Nature gives birth to the Dao. The Classic of the Inner Teachings of the Ascension to the Mysterious holds: The Dao is infinitely profound and mysterious, emerging entirely from Nature.
-
Nature is the innate essence of all things in the universe; all things take the Dao as their model, and thus take Nature as their model.
-
Nature is the very essence of the Dao, inherent within the Dao itself, and requires no external model to follow. Cheng Xuanying held that the Dao modeling itself on Nature means the Dao is inherently natural, not that it takes an external Nature as its model—Nature is the Dao of empty spontaneity. In Taoist cultivation and nourishment theories, all schools emphasize that the essence of health preservation lies in aligning with the way of Nature through practice, only then can one attain the Dao and achieve longevity. In the practice of cultivating in harmony with the way of Nature, cultivation masters believe there are different levels of spiritual attainment. The Classic of the Supreme Lord Laozi on the Origin of Emptiness and Spontaneous Nature states: "Those who abide in emptiness attain the way of Nature; they no longer ascend to heaven, but remain in the world to transform, witness life and death, and be teachers to all people. Those who abide in the spirit can refine their flesh and bones into the form of a True Person, belong to the heavenly officialdom, and ascend to fly in heaven—this is called the middle state of Nature. Those who abide in Qi can harmonize the yin and yang qi to grow feathers, attain the way of the flying immortals, and this is called the minor state of Nature."
