The Tao that can be told is not the eternal Tao.
The name that can be named is not the eternal name.
The unnameable is eternally real.
Naming is the origin of all things.
Free from desire,
You realise the mystery.
Caught in desire,
You see only manifestations.
Yet mystery and manifestations arise from the same source.
This source is called darkness.
Darkness within darkness.
The gateway to all understanding.
The Tao that can be told is not the eternal Tao.
The name that can be named is not the eternal name.
The unnameable is eternally real.
Naming is the origin of all particular things.
Free from desire,
You realise the mystery.
Caught in desire,
You see only manifestations.
Yet mystery and manifestations arise from the same source.
This source is called darkness.
Darkness within darkness.
The gateway to all understanding.
The Tao that can be told is not the eternal Tao.
So this verse is the first verse of the Tao Te Ching,
And it points to a truth of all non-dualistic traditions.
You can't name with words the One,
The Godhead,
The Buddha,
The singularity,
The point,
The eternal,
The play of consciousness,
With words.
You can't name the Tao.
Because all of those words and concepts and analogies,
All of that are made of the Tao,
Of the construct,
Of the thing that they're trying to name.
So by definition,
They will be limited.
You can't define something from within itself.
So all we can talk about in this course,
And all the Tao Te Ching book can talk about,
Is something that isn't quite total.
It's a guide.
It's a suggestion.
It's a finger pointing to the moon.
And that could cause us to wonder whether there is any point to reading the Tao Te Ching,
Or indeed practicing any form of practice,
Or doing much of anything.
Because if it is all One,
If it is all a manifestation of the Tao of Source,
Then surely we are already there.
Surely we've already made it,
And attainment is upon us.
And if that realization in this moment has fully embodied itself within you,
And you've embraced it,
Then I encourage you to,
Well,
Do whatever it is you desire,
For you've made it.
But even the language that I was using there,
You know,
Embodied with you,
You've made it,
All of that language still implies a dualistic approach.
If it is all One,
If it is all connected,
If it is all Tao,
Or flowing from the Source,
There is no you to attain anything,
For you are just a part of it.
One cannot attain enlightenment.
Enlightenment just arises.
The part there where it says,
Free from desire,
You realize the mystery,
Caught in desire,
You see only manifestations,
Is interesting,
And we'll talk about this in a later verse.
But briefly,
If you are free from expectation,
From desire,
You see things more broadly.
You're open,
You're not putting limitations on,
There is nothing clouding your eye,
You're not looking through the world with colored glasses.
But if you are caught in desire,
If you want something,
You know,
Anything from something small and insignificant and physical,
All the way up to the attainment of enlightenment,
Of Nirvana,
Of whatever you call it,
You'll see only manifestations,
You'll see only words,
You'll see only an aspect of the Tao.
Yet,
As this verse suggests,
Even mystery and manifestations all arise from that same source,
So even that process,
Even the understanding and the realization of the mystery,
Still isn't quite there.
No matter what we say,
No matter what we do,
The thoughts,
All of it,
Everything,
Is all within the One,
Within the Tao,
Within the Source.
There is no way to approach it through discourse and discussion.
Darkness within darkness,
Darkness within darkness,
Darkness within darkness,
The gateway to all understanding.
This seems to speak of an embodiment,
Of an understanding,
Of an acceptance,
Of the point of center,
The middle,
The internal,
The patient,
And we'll approach this in later sessions,
But there really is something here to just sitting and accepting and embracing and not striving,
Just being free of desire,
Accepting reality as it is,
For what it is right now.
But ultimately,
All of this,
All of these words,
This course,
Everything that arises for you today,
All of this is all a manifestation,
Is all a mystery,
It all arises from the same source,
The darkness,
The Tao,
Something that we can't name,
Something that we can't quite put a finger on,
Only point towards.
So it's with this that I ask you to sit for one minute and contemplate the first verse.
The Tao that can be told is not the Tao.
The name that can be named is not the eternal name.
The unnameable is eternally real.
Naming is the origin of all particular things.
Free from desire,
You realize the mystery.
Caught in desire,
You see only manifestations.
Yet mystery and manifestations arise from the same source.
This source is called darkness,
The gateway to all understanding.
The Tao that can be told is not the eternal Tao.
The name that can be named is not the eternal name.
The name that can be named is not the eternal name.
The unnameable is eternally real.
Naming is the origin of all particular things.
Free from desire,
You realize the mystery.
Caught in desire,
You see only the manifestations.
Yet mystery and manifestations arise from the same source.
This source is called darkness.
Darkness within darkness,
The gateway to all understanding.
So,
Well done.
This brings us to the end of the session.
At the bottom of your screen,
You'll see the option to view the classroom or to ask a question.
Before moving on,
I invite you to share your interpretations and inner discoveries of today's verse,
As well as to read the answers from other students and to hear my replies.
Remember to start your responses with the verse one,
So we all know which one you are referring to.
This is an opportunity for deep learning,
Further introspection and insight,
So please don't miss out.
I look forward to seeing you in the next session.
Thank you.
This track was taken from my course,
Wisdom of the Dao Te Ching.
It's available now on my InsightTimer profile.
Check it out.
