The Tao that can be told is not the universal Tao. The name that can be named is not the universal name. In the infancy of the universe, there were no names. Naming fragments the mysteries of life into ten thousand things and their manifestations. Yet mysteries and manifestations spring from the same source: The Great Integrity which is the mystery within manifestation, the manifestation within mystery, the naming of the unnamed, and the un-naming of the named. When these interpenetrations are in full attendance, we will pass the gates of naming notions in our journey toward transcendence. Ralph Alan Dale Or Tao Te Ching Online Translation : Taoism.net
This one, Tao Te Ching: Lao Tsu, Gia-Fu Feng, Jane English I don't have time to look it up right now.
ONE The Tao that can be told is not the eternal Tao. The name that can be named is not the eternal name. The nameless is the beginning of heaven and earth. The named is the mother of ten thousand things. Ever desireless, one can see the mystery. Ever desiring, one can see the manifestations. These two spring from the same source but differ in name; This appears as darkness. Darkness within darkness. The gate to all mystery. ~ Gia-Fu Feng, Jane English
ONE What is can not be described. When named it is not defined. The unnamed is all that is. Once named confusion will arise. Desiring to know leads to mystery. Not knowing leads to the source. Knowing and mystery, separate only in name. Separation leads to darkness. Darkness leads to light. The gate to all mystery. ~ Me
@MeAgain your personal rendering of the Tao Te Ching intrigued me and so got me thinking of my own. Here's my take on ONE The way that can be given voice is not the immutable Way. The name which is given is not the immutable Name. The indescribable is the Mother of Spirit & Matter. The describable is the mother of the myriad. Without want one sees the infinite. With want one sees it's manifestations. Both arise from the same source. Only in naming are they divided; Manifest as darkness, Deepest darkness. The Way to all that is infinite.
