4
The Way is empty, yet inexhaustible,Like an abyss!
It seems to be the origin of all things.
It dulls the sharpness,
Unties the knots,
Dims the light,
Becomes one with the dust.
Deeply hidden, as if it only might exist.
I do not know whose child it is.
It seems to precede the ancestor of all.
The Hidden Cause
Lao Tzu returns here to the mysterious nature of Tao, the Way. It's so vague and distant that we can only guess its existence by the deductions we make from observing the world around us. It's the inner working of the universe, and probably therefore also the originator of it...
Here is my full commentary on this Tao Te Ching chapter:
Tao Te Ching Chapter 4 Translation and Commentary
Tao Te Ching Chapter 4 Translation and Commentary
I have always wondered why you have to place gods in Daoism? Some americans loves to see Dao and God as the same. In my opinion you loose your way when there has to be a symbolized something.
ReplyDeleteIf you have to do that. It is better to call Dao a litter box then God.
Stefan - first a very big THANK YOU! I try to read one or 2 per day.
ReplyDeleteMy comment - on computer screen it's hard to read Italics - I'd advise to avoid those especially hard text to read like Tao Te Ching.
Also, I'd add arrows to go to the next --> or previous chapter <---.