Chapter 25

Nature Tao

There was something undefined and complete, coming into existence before Heaven and Earth. How still it was and formless, standing alone, and undergoing no change, reaching everywhere and in no danger (of being exhausted)! It may be regarded as the Mother of all things. I do not know its name, and I give it the designation of the Tao (the Way or Course). Making an effort (further) to give it a name I call it The Great. Great, it passes on (in constant flow). Passing on, it becomes remote. Having become remote, it returns. Therefore the Tao is great; Heaven is great; Earth is great; and the (sage) king is also great. In the universe there are four that are great, and the (sage) king is one of them. Man takes his law from the Earth; the Earth takes its law from Heaven; Heaven takes its law from the Tao. The law of the Tao is its being what it is.

Commentary

IMAGING THE MYSTERIOUS. 1. There is a Being wondrous and complete. Before heaven and earth, it was. How calm it is! How spiritual! 2. Alone it standeth, and it changeth not; around it moveth, and it suffereth not; yet therefore can it be the world's mother. 3. Its name I know not, but its nature I call Reason. 4. Constrained to give a name, I call it the great. The great I call the departing, and the departing I call the beyond. The beyond I call home. 5. The saying goes: "Reason is great, heaven is great, earth is gre...

Sources: Paul Carus (1913) - Chapter heading; Paul Carus (1913) - Canon of Reason and Virtue