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"Looking and yet not seeing it We thus call it “elusive.” Listening and yet not hearing it We thus call it “inaudible.” Groping and yet not getting it We thus call it “intangible.” Because in sight, sound, and touch it is beyond determination We construe it as inseparably one. As for this “one”— Its surface is not dazzling Nor is its underside dark. Ever so tangled, it defies discrimination And reverts again to indeterminacy. This is what is called the form of the formless And the image of indeterminacy. This is what is called the vague and the indefinite. Following behind you will not see its rear; Encountering it you will not see its head. Hold tightly onto way-making in the present To manage what is happening right now And to understand where it began in the distant past. This is what is called the drawstring of waymaking."

Author

Lao Tzu

All Translations

English

"Looking and yet not seeing it We thus call it “elusive.” Listening and yet not hearing it We thus call it “inaudible.” Groping and yet not getting it We thus call it “intangible.” Because in sight, sound, and touch it is beyond determination We construe it as inseparably one. As for this “one”— Its surface is not dazzling Nor is its underside dark. Ever so tangled, it defies discrimination And reverts again to indeterminacy. This is what is called the form of the formless And the image of indeterminacy. This is what is called the vague and the indefinite. Following behind you will not see its rear; Encountering it you will not see its head. Hold tightly onto way-making in the present To manage what is happening right now And to understand where it began in the distant past. This is what is called the drawstring of waymaking."

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