Tao and All Things in the Universe

There is something formless and complete,

born before heaven and earth.

Silent and boundless,

it stands alone and unchanging,

revolving endlessly without fail.

It may be called the mother of all under heaven.

I do not know its name,

so I call it “Dao.”

If forced to describe it, I call it “great.”

“Great” means everflowing,

everflowing means farreaching,

farreaching means returning to the source.

Thus, the Dao is great,

heaven is great,

earth is great,

and humanity is also great.

Within the cosmos, there are four great things,

and humanity is one of them.

Humans follow the earth,

the earth follows heaven,

heaven follows the Dao,

and the Dao follows nature.

(This chapter describes the essence of the Dao and its relationship with the universe. The Dao is the source of all existence—formless, silent, yet eternal and everactive. Laozi emphasizes that humans should emulate nature and align with the Dao’s principles to live in harmony with heaven, earth, and all things.)

Key Concepts:

道法自然 (dào fǎ zì rán) – “the Dao follows nature” (the Dao’s alignment with the natural order).

四大 (sì dà) – “four great things” (Dao, heaven, earth, and humanity).

周行而不殆 (zhōu xíng ér bù dài) – “revolving endlessly without fail” (the Dao’s perpetual motion).

Core Philosophy:

The Dao is the ultimate source of all things, embodying the natural order of the universe. By following the Dao, humans align themselves with the rhythms of heaven and earth, achieving harmony and balance. This chapter underscores the interconnectedness of all existence and the importance of living in accordance with nature.