Tao Te Ching: Verse One

A collection of translations of the first verse of Lao Tzu's Tao Te Ching

Raghavan Iyer


The Tao that can be told is not the eternal Tao;
The name that can be named is not the eternal Name.
The Nameless is the Source of Heaven and Earth;
The named is the Mother of Ten Thousand Things.
Desireless, one may behold the mystery;
Desiring, one may see the manifestations.
Though one in origin,
They emerge with distinct names.
Both are mysteries –
Depth within depth –
The threshold of all secrets.
Newer Post Older Post Home

About Me

My photo
Michael Holshouser
View my complete profile

Blog Archive

  • ▼  2015 (46)
    • ▼  August (46)
      • Preface
      • Bart Marshall
      • Gia-Fu Feng and Jane English
      • Steven Mitchell
      • Stephen F. Kaufman
      • Ursula K. Le Guin
      • Witter Bynner
      • Frank J. MacHovec
      • Raymond B. Blakney
      • Raghavan Iyer
      • Jonathan Star
      • John C. H. Wu
      • Stephen Addiss and Stanley Lombardo
      • Dwight Goddard
      • Ellen M. Chen
      • Brian Browne Walker
      • R. L. Wing
      • John H. McDonald
      • Ralph Alan Dale
      • Victor H. Mair
      • David Hinton
      • Under Construction
      • Under Construction
      • Under Construction
      • Under Construction
      • Under Construction
      • Under Construction
      • Under Construction
      • Under Construction
      • Under Construction
      • Under Construction
      • Under Construction
      • Under Construction
      • Under Construction
      • Under Construction
      • Under Construction
      • Under Construction
      • Under Construction
      • Under Construction
      • Under Construction
      • Under Construction
      • Under Construction
      • Under Construction
      • Under Construction
      • Under Construction
      • Under Construction
Picture Window theme. Powered by Blogger.