The Tao

Lao-Tse

Before creation a presence existed,

Self-contained, complete,

formless, voiceless, mateless,

changeless,

Which yet pervaded itself with

unending motherhood.

Though there can be no name

for it.

I have called it the "way of life."

Perhaps I should have called it

"the fullness of life,"

Since fullness implies widening

into space,

Implies still further widening

into space,

Implies still further widening,

Implies widening until the circle

is whole.

In this sense

The way of life is fulfilled.

Heaven is fulfilled.

Earth is fulfilled.

And a fit person also is fulfilled.

There are the four amplitudes of

the universe

And a fit person is one of them.

People rounding the way of

earth,

Earth rounding the way of

heaven.

Heaven rounding the way of life

Till the circle is full.

-Lao-Tse