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"What is looked at but not (pu) seen, Is named the extremely dim (yi). What is listened to but not heard, Is named the extremely faint (hsi). What is grabbed but not caught, Is named the extremely small (wei). These three cannot be comprehended, Thus they blend into one. As to the one, its coming up is not light, Its going down is not darkness. Unceasing, unnameable, Again it reverts to nothing. Therefore it is called the formless form, The image (hsiang) of nothing. Therefore it is said to be illusive and evasive (hu-huang). Come toward it one does not see its head, Follow behind it one does not see its rear. Holding on to the Tao of old (ku chih tao), So as to steer in the world of now (chin chih yu). To be able to know the beginning of old, It is to know the thread of Tao."

Author

Lao Tzu

All Translations

English

"What is looked at but not (pu) seen, Is named the extremely dim (yi). What is listened to but not heard, Is named the extremely faint (hsi). What is grabbed but not caught, Is named the extremely small (wei). These three cannot be comprehended, Thus they blend into one. As to the one, its coming up is not light, Its going down is not darkness. Unceasing, unnameable, Again it reverts to nothing. Therefore it is called the formless form, The image (hsiang) of nothing. Therefore it is said to be illusive and evasive (hu-huang). Come toward it one does not see its head, Follow behind it one does not see its rear. Holding on to the Tao of old (ku chih tao), So as to steer in the world of now (chin chih yu). To be able to know the beginning of old, It is to know the thread of Tao."

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