Tao Te Jing in Plain English

Chapter 1

If Tao can be described, then it is not general Tao.

If a name can be defined, then it is not a general name.

The invisible is the origin of the universe.

The visible is the mother of all things.

By constantly thinking the invisible, we understand the universe;

By constantly observing the visible; we can see how the natural laws work.

Thinking and observing are two different things.

Yet they serve the same goal: to theorize.

Theorizing and evolving these theories is the gate to marvels.

Comment

This is the most important chapter in the entire book. In this chapter, Lao Tzu described some basic concepts and methodology of his theories.

The first two sentences describe some of the basic attributes of Tao. In this paragraph, description of Tao is compared with the description of a name. An abstract name, such as an object, is more general than specific name, such as a pen. Because Tao consists of very general laws of the universe, it is very abstract. Therefore, it cannot be described.

As described below in Chapter 2, things in nature appear in opposite pairs. In the next paragraph, Lao Tzu defined two opposite things: the visible and invisible. Then speculated how the world got started. In Chapter 64, Lao Tzu observed that giant trees grow from tiny seeds; he must have observed that the algae and the moss seemed grow out of something invisible. Then it is possible for him to speculate that the origin of the world is like the algae and the moss - come from the invisible.

Observing the visible and contemplating the invisible are another contrasting pair, which form the foundation of Lao Tzu’s methodology. Since the pure thinking is invisible; it is {无} “WU(2).” The real world is visible; therefore it is {有}“YOU(3).”

It is interesting to compare the methodologies of some great mind, such as Einstein. In his book “The evolution of Physics,”[1] Einstein said:” To obtain even a partial solution the scientist must collect the unordered facts available and make then coherent and understandable by creative thought.” The unordered “facts” are the visible; the creative “thought” is the invisible.

In the same book, Einstein said: “It frequently happens, that in the ordinary affairs and occupations of life, opportunities present themselves of contemplating some of the most curious operation of Nature.” “Only pure thinking will lead to a correlation of the facts collected.” These words are almost identical to Lao Tzu’s sentences 5 and 6.

“To use a comparison, we could say that creating a new theory is not like destroying an old barn and erecting a skyscraper in its place. It is rather like the visibility gained from climbing a mountain, gaining new and wider views, discovering unexpected connections between our starting point and its rich environment. But the point from which we started out still exists and can be seen, although it appears smaller and forms a tiny part of our broad view gained by the mastery of the obstacles on our adventurous way up.” Would that be similar to the Lao Tzu’s last sentence in Chapter 1? Chinese character {玄} “XUAN(2)” has many meanings, one of them is “abstract, hard to imagine, etc.” This meaning is also used in modern Chinese. We think in this context, it can be rendered as theorization because theorization is a process of abstract thinking.

As we know that German philosopher Leibniz and English scientist Newton invented calculus independently. It is not unreasonable to think that the above Einstein’s words echo Lao Tzu’s.
Chapter 2

People know what beauty is, because there is ugliness; people know what good is, because there is bad.

Likewise, empty and full, difficulty and ease, long and short, high and low, sound and tone, front and rear, all go side by side.

Thus, the sage handles affairs without the intention for fame, and teaches without preaching, lets things develop without initialize them, lets things grow without interfering them, lets things move ahead without forcing them, lets things succeed without boast about them.

Because the sage does not brag his success, he would continue to be successful.

Comments

According to Lao Tzu, all people learn and perceive things in contrasting pair. Indeed, in addition to the examples pointed out by Lao Tzu, it is easy to see more such pairs in the world: north and south magnet poles, positive and negative electrical charges, open and close, import and export--

Lao Tzu believes that everything is governed by Tao. Smart people discover and follow Tao when doing things, rather than fight against them. Thus, they succeed naturally.