http://www.geocities.com/alex_kew/chinese/taoteching.html .

Tao Te Ching

This book Taoteching is in general form, so different people will
interpret differently.

1. There are ways but the Way is uncharted; there are names but not
nature in words: nameless indeed is the source of creation but things
have a mother and she has a name.
(Tao is just a worldly name for IT.)

The secret waits for the insight of eyes (not blind) unclouded by
longing; those who are bound by desire see only the outward container.
(The secret of Tao is for the simple minded. Others see the outward
features, ie the two eyes.)

These two come paired but distinct by their names. Of all things
profound, say that their pairing is deepest, the gate to the root of
the world.
(When the two eye-balls look inward that is looking at the mark on the
forehead or nasal gaze.)

2. Since the world points up beauty as such, there is ugliness too.
If goodness is taken as goodness, wickedness enters as well.

41. On hearing of the Way, the best of men will earnestly explore
its length. The mediocre person learns of it and takes it up and sets
it down. But vulgar people, when they hear the news, will laugh out
loud, and if they did not laugh, it would not be the Way.

And so there is a proverb: "When going looks like coming back, the
clearest road is mighty dark." Today, the Way that's plain looks rough,
and lofty virtue like a chasm; the purest innocence like shame, the
broadest power not enough, established goodness knavery, substantial
worth like shifting tides.

Great space has no corners; great powers come late; great music is
soft sound; the great Form no shape.

The Way is obscure and unnamed; it is a skilled investor,
nonetheless, the master of accomplishment.

42. The Way begot one, and the one, two; then the two begot three
and three, all else.

All things bear the shade on their backs and the sun in their arms;
by the blending of breath from the sun and the shade, equilibrium comes
to the world.

http://www.geocities.com/alex_kew/chinese/commenttao.html .

Comments on Daodejing

16th August 2005

一章○是說玄關○眾妙之門○觀玄關是觀無空○觀鼻尖是觀萬字或日沒○兩者是一樣○
http://www.geocities.com/alex_kew/charity/laotze2n/lz01d.gif .
To understand chapter 1, you need to read Taoist Yoga chapter 1
first. The last verse of the above chapter is talking about the Mystic
Portal. The chapter can be read as:-

The Way can be trodden but it is not a normal Way. You can name it
but the name is not its name. Without a name it is the creator of
heaven and earth. Given a name it is the mother of all creation. Always
empty (nothingness), you have to observe its mystery. Conceiving its
presence, we have to observe its outlines. These 2 observations are the
same. Both are mystic for we are looking at the mysterious Mystic
Portal.

http://www.geocities.com/alex_kew/charity/laotze2n/lz41.gif
High moral men hearing Tao will explore and act on it. Middle moral
men hearing Tao will indulge while busy with everyday life. Low moral
men hearing Tao will laugh it off. If they do not laugh it may not be
the Tao. There the proverb says: understand Tao is like the dawn of
day; enter Tao is like retreat; plain Tao look rough; highest virtue is
like valley; broaden virtue is like not enough; establishing virtue is
like stealing; substantial truth is like shifting tides; great
awakening is like shame; great space has no corners; great weapon comes
late; great sound is rarely heard; great form has no image; Tao is
obscure without name. I confirm Tao's saying, know the goods well, then
you will succeed.

[ For Chinese texts see Taoteching. Below is missing Chinese word
for the above poem.]