Tag Archives: Dao

Dao, Heaven, Earth, and Humanity

Verse 25 by Lao Zi: 有物混成，先天地生。寂兮寥兮，独立而不改，周行而不殆，可以为天地母。吾不知其名，强字之曰：道，强为之名曰：大。大曰逝，逝曰远，远曰反。故道大，天大，地大，人亦大。域中有四大，而人居其一焉。人法地，地法天，天法道，道法自然。 There is something formed from chaos,Born before Heaven and Earth.Silent and boundless,Alone and unchanging,It moves in cycles without exhaustion,And can be called the Mother of Heaven and Earth. I do not know its name;I force myself to call it “Dao.”If compelled to give it a designation, I call it “Great.”ContinueContinue reading “Dao, Heaven, Earth, and Humanity”

On the Nature of the Dao

Verse 21 by Lao Zi: 孔德之容，惟道是从。道之为物，惟恍惟惚。惚兮恍兮，其中有象；恍兮惚兮，其中有物；窈兮冥兮，其中有精，其精甚真，其中有信，自今及古，其名不去，以阅众甫。吾何以知众甫之状哉？以此。 The appearance of great virtueFollows only the Dao. As for the Dao itself — it is something elusive and indistinct.Indistinct and elusive —Within it is form.Elusive and indistinct —Within it is substance.Shadowy and dark —Within it is essence.This essence is very real.Within it is truth. From ancient times until now,ItsContinueContinue reading “On the Nature of the Dao”