Source: From the first chapter of Laozi's Tao Te Ching in the Spring and Autumn Period.
Tao can be Tao, but it is not constant. A name can be named, but it is not a constant name. Nameless, the beginning of everything; Fame is the mother of everything. Therefore, there is no desire to watch; There is always a desire to see what it is. They are the same, but different names are the same. Mysterious and mysterious, many people's doors.
Translation: "Tao" that can be expressed in words is not an eternal "Tao"; It can be said in words that it is not an eternal "name". "Nothing" is the foundation of heaven and earth, and "Being" is the root of all things. We should observe the mystery of Tao from "nothing". We often know the clues of Tao from "being".
Extended data
Creation background
According to the literature, Lao Tzu is quiet, studious and knowledgeable. In the process of teaching knowledge by his teacher, Shang Rong, Laozi always gets to the bottom of the matter and is very eager for knowledge.
In order to solve doubts, he often looks up at the sun, moon and stars and thinks about what the sky is, so that he often can't sleep. Later, Mr. Shang Rong "really learned everything from the old lady."
Recommend Laozi to study in Zhoudu. The literature records: "When I went to see a doctor in Zhou, I went to imperial academy, and I learned all about astronomy, geography and human feelings. When I read all my poems, I could easily experience rituals and music, and I learned all my cultural relics, laws and history books, and I made great progress in my studies.
The doctor also recommended him to be an official in the Tibetan room. The sutra depository is a collection of ancient books in the Zhou Dynasty, which is full of articles and books from all over the world. "Through this experience, Lao Tzu has accumulated a wealth of knowledge and made him famous.
Laozi was born in the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period. At that time, the environment was weak in the Zhou Dynasty, and various governors constantly competed for hegemony. The violent turmoil and changes made Lao Tzu witness the sufferings of the people, which was regarded as the Tibetan history of the Zhou Dynasty, so he put forward a series of thoughts on governing the country and protecting the people.
Yin also played a great role in the compilation of Tao Te Ching. When he was young, he was fond of astronomy, reading ancient books, and had a profound cultivation. Sima Qian recorded in Historical Records Biography of Laozi that Laozi "lived in Zhou for a long time and saw Zhou decline, so he went away."
Guan Guan (Order) Yin said: My son must be hidden, and his book must be written by me. Therefore, Lao Tzu said, I should leave with five thousand words of morality and never know what to do. Yin moved Lao Tzu, who traced his life experience, learned lessons from the rise and fall of the dynasty and the safety of the people, and wrote the first and second books, * * * five thousand words, namely the Tao Te Ching.