John Minford

The Tao that can be Told

Is not the True Tao;

Names that can be Named

Are not True Names.

The Origin of Heaven and Earth

Has no Name.

The Mother of the Myriad Things

Has a Name.

Free from Desire,

Contemplate the Inner Marvel;

With Desire,

Observe the Outer Radiance.

These issue from One Source,

But have different Names.

They are both a Mystery.

Mystery of Mysteries,

Gateway to All Marvels

The Tao that can be Told is the mundane Tao of the Art of Government, as opposed to the True Tao of Nature, of the So-of-Itself, of Long Life, of Self-Cultivation through Non-Action. This is the Deep Tao, which cannot be Told in Words, which cannot be Named. The Names that can be Named are such worldly things as Wealth, Pomp, Glory, Fame, and Rank

The Ineffable Tao

Emulates the Wordless Infant,

It resembles

The Unhatched Egg,

The Bright Pearl within the Oyster,

The Beauteous Jade amongst Pebbles.

It cannot be Named.

The Taoist glows with Inner Light, but seems outwardly dull and foolish. The Tao itself has no Form, it can never be Named.

The Root of the Tao

Proceeds from Void,

From Non-Being,

It is the Origin,

The Source of Heaven and Earth,

Mother of the Myriad Things,

Nurturing All-under-Heaven,

As a Mother Nurtures her Children