道十四 - Tao Chapter 14

视之而弗见 名之曰微

听之而弗闻 名之曰希

捪之而弗得 名之曰夷

三者不可至计 故混而为一

一者 其上不谬 其下不昧 寻寻呵不可名也 复归于无物

是谓无状之状 无物之象

是谓忽朢 随而不见其后 迎而不见其首

执今之道 以御今之有 以知古始

是谓道纪

仔细看但是看不到的，叫“细微”；认真听但是听不到的，叫“寂静”；触摸但是没有无所得，叫做“平滑”。这三种感官极致细微之处是无法区分和计量的，所以这里就不加区分，总称为“一”。 基于这个“一”来描述世间事物，描述“有”的时候不会产生谬误（谬，狂者之妄言也）；描述“非有”的时候边界也不会不明晰。 这个“一”在自然界中很难找到对应的概念，也没有物质相对应。这就是没有形状的形状，没有物质的形象，可以叫“空虚”的存在（朢，月滿與日相朢，以朝君也）。 在水道之中随波逐流时，随浪而去不知道后来者情况；迎浪而上也不知道源头何来。 把握现实存在的水道，就能驾驭现实水道中的存在，也可以以此进一步反推水道演化的过程。这就叫做“道”的头绪。

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The subtle that is seen yet not seen is called "subtle." The silent that is heard yet not heard is called "silent." The smooth that is touched yet not touched is called "smooth." These three sensory extremes are difficult to distinguish and measure, so they are not separated here and are generally referred to as "one."

Describing the things in the world based on this "one," when describing "existence," there will be no errors; when describing "non-existence," the boundaries will also be clear.

This "one" is difficult to find a corresponding concept in the natural world and there is no corresponding material. This is the existence of something without shape, without material, which can be called "emptiness."

In the waterway, when flowing with the current, one does not know the situation of those downstream; when facing the waves, one also does not know the origin.

Holding on to the reality of the waterway, one can control the existence in the reality of the waterway, and can also further deduce the process of the evolution of the waterway. This is called the "Dao" of the beginning.