Tao that can be spoken of,
Is not the Everlasting Tao.
Name that can be named,
Is not the Everlasting name.
Nameless, the origin of
heaven and earth;
Named, the mother of ten
thousand things.
Alternate,
Non-being, to name the
origin of heaven and earth;
Being, to name the mother of
ten thousand things.
Therefore, always without desire,
In order to observe the
hidden mystery;
Always with desire,
In order to observe the
manifestations.
Alternate,
Therefore, by the
Everlasting Non-Being,
We desire to observe its
hidden mystery;
By the Everlasting Being,
We desire to observe the
manifestations.
These two issue from the
same origin,
Though named differently.
Both are called the dark.
Dark and even darker,
The door to all hidden
mysteries.