Tao Te Ching by Lao Tzu
Chapter 14"We look at it, and do not see it; it is invisible.
We listen to it, and do not hear it; it is inaudible.
We touch it, and do not feel it; it is intangible.
These three elude our inquiries, and hence merge into one.
Not by its rising, is it bright,
nor by its sinking, is it dark.
Infinite and eternal, it cannot be defined.
It returns to nothingness.
This is the form of the formless, being in non-being.
It is nebulous and elusive.
Meet it, and you do not see its beginning.
Follow it, and you do not see its end.
Stay with the ancient Way
in order to master what is present.
Knowing the primeval beginning is the essence of the Way."
- Translated by Sanderson Beck, 1996, Chapter 14
"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."
- Translated by Ellen Marie Chen, 2000, Chapter 14
"We look for it but do not see it:
we name it "subtle."
We listen for it but do not hear it;
we name it "rare."
We grope for it but do not grasp it;
we name it "serene."
These three cannot be fully fathomed,
Therefore,
They are bound together to make unity.
Of unity,
its top is not distant,
its bottom is not blurred.
Infinitely extended
and unnameable,
It returns to non-entity.
This is called
"the form of the formless,"
"the image of nonentity."
This is called "the amorphous."
Following behind it,
you cannot see its back;
Approaching it from the front,
you cannot see its head.
Hold to the Way of today
to manage the actualities of today
thereby understanding the primeval beginning.
This is called "the thread of the Way.""
- Translated by Victor H. Mair, 1990, Chapter 14
"When you look, it isn't there
Listen and you cannot hear it
It seems to be beyond your reach
Because you are so near it
This single source of everything
Appears to be an empty image
Though it cannot be understood
You can see its naked visage
Follow it to nothingness
Approach it where you have no face
From nowhere to infinity
This vacant image leaves no trace
From never to eternity
This naked face is what you are
An empty, vacant, open door
Forevermore ajar"
- Translated by Jim Clatfelder, 2000, Chapter 14
Listen and you cannot hear it
It seems to be beyond your reach
Because you are so near it
This single source of everything
Appears to be an empty image
Though it cannot be understood
You can see its naked visage
Follow it to nothingness
Approach it where you have no face
From nowhere to infinity
This vacant image leaves no trace
From never to eternity
This naked face is what you are
An empty, vacant, open door
Forevermore ajar"
- Translated by Jim Clatfelder, 2000, Chapter 14
"Look, it cannot be seen,
So it is called invisible.
Listen, it cannot be heard,
So it is called soundless.
Touch, it cannot be caught,
So it is called elusive.
These three cannot be examined,
So they unite into one.
Above it there is no light,
Below it there is no darkness.
Endlessness beyond description.
It returns to non-existence.
It is called the shapeless shape,
The substance without form.
It is called obscurely evasive.
Meet it and you do not see its beginning,
Follow it and you do not see its end.
Hold on to the ancient Way to master the present,
And to learn the distant beginning.
This is called the unbroken strand of the Way."
- Translated by Stefan Stenudd, Chapter 14
So it is called invisible.
Listen, it cannot be heard,
So it is called soundless.
Touch, it cannot be caught,
So it is called elusive.
These three cannot be examined,
So they unite into one.
Above it there is no light,
Below it there is no darkness.
Endlessness beyond description.
It returns to non-existence.
It is called the shapeless shape,
The substance without form.
It is called obscurely evasive.
Meet it and you do not see its beginning,
Follow it and you do not see its end.
Hold on to the ancient Way to master the present,
And to learn the distant beginning.
This is called the unbroken strand of the Way."
- Translated by Stefan Stenudd, Chapter 14
One Qigong and Taijiquan Grandmaster, Dr. Yang Jwing-Ming, has published a fine translation and extensive general and Qigong commentaries on the Tao Te Ching.
“When looked at, it cannot be seen, named “Yi”
(i.e.. invisible);
when listened, it cannot be heard, named “Xi” (i.e., inaudible);
when grasped, it cannot be acquired, named “Wei” (i.e., fine formless).
These three cannot be completely unraveled;
thus, they are combined into one.
Above it (i.e., in the sky), it is not bright (i.e., clear) and below it
(i.e., on the ground), it is not dim (i.e., concealed).
It is continuous and endless, it cannot be named.
It returns to a state of nothingness.
Thus, it can be called the shape of the shapeless,
with the appearance of nothingness,
and is called “Huang Hu.”
When in front of it, its head cannot be seen, and
when following it, its tail cannot be seen.
Use this ancient Dao and apply it to the needs of today.
When able to know the ancient beginning, then it is called
Knowing the principles of the Dao.”
- Translated by Dr. Yang Jwing-Ming, Chapter 14
when listened, it cannot be heard, named “Xi” (i.e., inaudible);
when grasped, it cannot be acquired, named “Wei” (i.e., fine formless).
These three cannot be completely unraveled;
thus, they are combined into one.
Above it (i.e., in the sky), it is not bright (i.e., clear) and below it
(i.e., on the ground), it is not dim (i.e., concealed).
It is continuous and endless, it cannot be named.
It returns to a state of nothingness.
Thus, it can be called the shape of the shapeless,
with the appearance of nothingness,
and is called “Huang Hu.”
When in front of it, its head cannot be seen, and
when following it, its tail cannot be seen.
Use this ancient Dao and apply it to the needs of today.
When able to know the ancient beginning, then it is called
Knowing the principles of the Dao.”
- Translated by Dr. Yang Jwing-Ming, Chapter 14
A typical webpage created by Mike Garofalo for each one of the 81 Chapters (Verses, Sections) of the Tao Te Ching (Daodejing) by Lao Tzu (Laozi) includes 25 different English language translations or interpolations for that Chapter, 5 Spanish language translations for that Chapter, the Chinese characters for that Chapter, the Wade-Giles and Hanyu Pinyin transliterations (Romanization) of the Mandarin Chinese words for that Chapter, and 2 German and 1 French translation of that Chapter. Each webpage for each one of the 81 Chapters of the Tao Te Ching includes extensive indexing by key words, phrases, and terms for that Chapter in English, Spanish, and the Wade-Giles Romanization. Each webpage on a Chapter of the Daodejing includes recommended reading in books and websites, a detailed bibliography, some commentary, research leads, translation sources, a Google Translate drop down menu, and other resources for that Chapter.
