As Jason Gregory explains in this text, the “tradition of natural Taoism” is expressed by living in harmony with nature and one’s own original being instead of being ruled by social programming or excessive reasoning.
The nature-based path of Taoism helps people return to their unfiltered true nature, especially through teachings like wu-wei and xiaoyao you (“free and easy wandering”).
A spiritual writer and teacher who presents ancient wisdom in a practical way, Gregory describes Taoism as a way to loosen social conditioning, dissolve ego, and realign with the Tao.
“The Tao is that ultimate reality that is all and everything… The Tao cannot be felt though a form of over-the-top strict cultivation or striving, but rather in letting go of yourself and the negative tendency to control your life and the world. From the place of your original existence and nature, you are a perfect reflection of the entire universe.”
Gregory draws on the Tao Te Ching and the Chuang-tzu to show how Taoism can be lived as a kind of spiritual practice rather than just a philosophy. He frames it as a return to spontaneity, naturalness, and becoming a zhenren—an authentic or genuine person.