道德经一

Daodejing One: 6/59





dào

dào 可dào fēi cháng dào

道 可 道 非 常 道

“way” “can” “speak” “is not” “constant” “way”

the way that can be spoken of is not the constant way

the thing you’re talking about it not actually it 

what you are talking about is just your idea of it

when Laozi was writing this book

his friends all laughed at him and said

“hey, if you can’t talk about the dao then why are you writing a book about it?

stop writing it. 

just take it easy, okay?”

but Laozi said

“hey c’mon. we can say some really daoist things

just don’t try and define the dao.”

nice couple

that nice couple get along so well

because they always do good for each other

that’s the thing that always keeps them together

but say what doing good for one another means

make that into rules

rules for them to follow

and it’s lost

you can talk about the couple 

and make a film about their love for each other

but try and formulate exactly what that love entails

and you’ve ruined it

confused reader

the first line of the daodejing

is dense

and can have many interpretations

if you’re confused, that’s good

the rest of the book extends upon this line

things will become clearer

daodejing home