Tao Te Ching Chapter 1 - The Unnamable Tao

Taoism

Tao Te Ching 1

Lao Tzu's opening on the paradox of the Tao follows an A-B-C-B'-A' pattern of naming and transcendence.

AThe Tao that can be spoken is not the eternal Tao.

BThe name that can be named is not the eternal name.

CThe nameless is the beginning of heaven and earth; the named is the mother of all things.

B'These two spring from the same source but differ in name; this source we call the darkness.

A'Darkness within darkness—the gateway to all wonders.