natural law; heavenly principle
Refers to an inherent moral or cosmic order, often in philosophical or religious contexts. Not an everyday word; more common in discussions of East Asian thought.
In Eastern thought, living in accordance with heavenly principles is considered ideal.
He strictly warned against acts that go against natural law.
Some thinkers argue that people should live in accordance with the natural law.
That act was considered to be in keeping with the heavenly principle.
天道 emphasizes the 'way' or path of heaven governing human conduct, whereas 天理 focuses on the underlying principle or law itself.
天理 is a literary term for 'heaven's principle' or natural law, close to 摂理 in its philosophical sense but without the specifically Christian usage.
From 天 (heaven) + 理 (principle, reason). The exact historical derivation is uncertain, but the compound is conventionally associated with the concept of a universal moral order.