Whereas Te is the true power within, I understand Tzu Ran (Pronounced Ziran) to be the way or the path to that true power.

Tzu Ran is described as the natural power of Li. The power of Te only comes through Tzu Ran’s natural expression. Thus, if one acts in line with their natural force which is in harmony with their true being, than a force or power is carried through such action. (Note: action can simply mean beingness in itself, not particular to a specific action).

In a nutshell, if one follows their true purpose in life (Li), one will also follow their natural path (Tzu Ran), and by following their natural true path, one experiences their inner power (Te).

The way of Tzu Ran is acting according to the true calling of ourselves, not according to other’s expectation of us. Acting in the true nature according to our self, is the natural expression of our being, this is Tzu Ran.

Using the river metaphor, Tzu Ran we can suggest that the river represents Te (Natural Power) and the flow of that river represents Tzu Ran (Natural Path). When a raft goes down the river using the force of the current’s flow, it travels with the natural force of the river. By following the natural flow of the river, the power of propulsion occurs without a man made force moving this raft.

So when we move in the natural effortless flow of life, we are following Tzu Ran. Now one may misinterpret effortless action as sitting and watching TV for hours. It is possible that this would also constitute Tzu Ran however being in the flow also means “flow” and not stagnation. Continuing with the river metaphor, being in the flow would also mean slowing down at times when the river comes to a lull. Here we would still be moving with Tzu Ran, but if we drifted off to a tributary of the river that was stagnating, then we suddenly would have moved out of that flow of Tzu Ran. Using the river allegory, we can also understand that a person in a raft moving in the flow of the river must remain alert and aware even though they are moving in the natural flow. So moving in the natural flow still requires focus so we do not become stuck in an eddy or diverted off from the flow of the river. Becoming overly paranoid when the river flow gets a little rough, could also become dangerous, so remaining calm, focused, and relaxed becomes essential for a person to navigate the more challenging areas of the river. Like in Tai Chi, we move with flowing movement in a relaxed concentrated and focused fashion, one is focused and relaxed and aware when in they are in the natural flow of Tzu Ran.

An experienced rafter can navigate the various classes of river rapids. A very skilled rafter can go down a river with a very powerful current and they can experience movement of their raft with great force. In the same way as Tzu Ran, the more skillful you can navigate the natural flow, the stronger that “current” or force of Te that will go with you.

Now the purpose or Li of the river is to flow down the path of least resistance as water travels. So naturally, a rafter will go against the Li if they go in the opposite direction of the river. This would clearly indicate struggle which is “out of the flow”.

We can see in our lives and with others that when we struggle, we go against the flow. Granted, we come across very hard challenges and difficult tasks at work and in our daily lives. But like the flowing river that hits a rock wall, it must turn and go to the next natural place that presents itself. It may have to gather water and fill a lower level before it can flow further (like filling the Dan Tien fist before it circulates), and thus the flow in life may seem to be halted at this point. Here we would cultivate calm, waiting for the flow to begin again.

Even though we may be facing crucial challenges, struggle would represent how we are taking the challenges in our life. Our internal attitude toward the obstacles would represent how we are best moving with the force of Tzu Ran in the face of these obstacles. If the river would stop whenever it ran into a big rock, the river would not have power or Te. But the river naturally follows its course of Tzu Ran because it will go around the big rock and thus it is following the river’s Li or its purpose of finding the path of least resistance. The river also is moving in its natural pattern, so it doesn’t say “excuse me” to the big rock and move over to some other place because the rock was in its way, it instead follows what is its true course, its natural course, its Li. So we can think of the path of the flowing river to be Tzu Ran.

Speaking from the perspective of Qigong and Tai Chi, Tzu Ran can be understood as the experience of the natural flow of Qi throughout the being to bring forth the Te. Clearly, when there are Qi blockages, the Qi does not flow and our natural force does not come through. By the same token, when the mind is blocked by subconscious patterns, it is difficult to see and follow the natural path of our being. Because we believe our conditioned patterns to be our natural path, we may forget what our real natural path is. So the goal of Tzu Ran is to be naturally as we are, and not as we perceive how we ‘should be’.