12-06-2013, 01:22 PM
Chapter 1;
'The Tao that can be spoken is not the eternal Tao
The name that can be named is not the eternal name
The nameless is the origin of Heaven and Earth
The named is the mother of myriad things
Thus, constantly without desire, one observes its essence
Constantly with desire, one observes its manifestations
These two emerge together but differ in name
The unity is said to be the mystery
Mystery of mysteries, the door to all wonders'
I know this is the very first verse, but I'd quite forgotten of this text, and this introduction to such a delicate work, I feel is quite revealing of the Universal Tao
'The Tao that can be spoken is not the eternal Tao
The name that can be named is not the eternal name
The nameless is the origin of Heaven and Earth
The named is the mother of myriad things
Thus, constantly without desire, one observes its essence
Constantly with desire, one observes its manifestations
These two emerge together but differ in name
The unity is said to be the mystery
Mystery of mysteries, the door to all wonders'
I know this is the very first verse, but I'd quite forgotten of this text, and this introduction to such a delicate work, I feel is quite revealing of the Universal Tao