Cross-references self : #7, #9, #16, #26, #44, #52, #54, #66 serve the world : #39, #49 Chapter Fourteen 視 之 不 見 名 曰 夷 聽 之 不 聞 名 曰 希 搏 之 不 得 名 曰 微 • 此 三 者 不 可 致 詰 • (•)故 混 而 為 一 [一 者] 其 上 不 皦 • 其 下 不 昧 • 繩 繩 [兮] 不 可 名 • 復 歸 於 無 物 • 是 謂 無 狀 之 狀 無 物 之 象 是 謂 惚 恍 迎 之 不 見 其 首 隨 之 不 見 其 後 執 古 之 道 以 御 今 之 有 • 能 知 古 始 是 謂 道 紀 Look, it is not seen; its name is called elusive. Listen, it is not heard; its name is called tenuous. Grasp, it is not gotten; its name is called subtle and obscure. These three things can not be investigated any further – Therefore they blend and become one. This one thing : Its highest point is not bright; Its lowest point is not dark. Continuous and unending!, it can not be named; It returns to non-existence. It is called the form of that which is without-form; The image of non-existence. It is called confusing and indistinct. Meet it and you do not see its beginning; Follow it and you do not see its end. Hold fast to the Way of the ancients In order to master the present moment. The ability to know the ancient beginning – This is called the main principle of Dao. Look, it is not seen; its name is called elusive°. Listen, it is not heard; its name is called tenuous. [rare] Grasp, it is not gotten; its name is called subtle and obscure. These three things can not be investigated any further – [entities] [finer,closer] ♦Therefore they blend and become one. This one thing :A [entity] Its highest point is not bright; Its lowest point is not dark. Continuous and unending2 !, it can not be named; ♦It returns2 to non-existence. [thing-ness] It is called the form of [that which] is without-form; ♦The image of non-existence. [thing-ness] It is called confusing and indistinct.B Meet it and you do not see its beginning; Follow it and you do not see its end. [back,rear] Hold fast to the Way of the ancients In order to master the present moment 3. [control,manage] [present ’s existence] The ability to know the ancient beginning – This is called the main principleC of Dao. [discipline] Notes A : Only WB and HSG dropped this line B : compare to #21, where Dao is also confusing and indistinct, and to #40, where Dao specifically “returns” and “weakens”