Dao: Song_004

Dao: Song_004

The Tao is an empty vessel; it is used, but never filled.
Oh, unfathomable source of ten thousand things!
Blunt the sharpness,
Untangle the knot,
Soften the glare,
Merge with dust.
Oh, hidden deep but ever present!
I do not know from whence it comes.
It is the forefather of the gods.

Translated by Gia Fu Feng

Commentary on Song_004

Can I fill something that is hollow?
Dried spring can be filled.
Can an ever-flowing spring be filled?
Both the ends are open—How do I fill it?

What does it do when it raises and lowers?
Blunts and sharpens the tool—As it acts on its own.
Intensifies and softens the gaze—As it acts on its own.
Burdens and unburdens the load—As it acts on its own.
Tangles and untangles the maze—As it acts on its own.
It acts on its own: It is the source of all intelligence.

When it raises to the crown it merges,
Not only with dust, with everything that it comes across.

It's always an unrequited lover
It keeps loving and loving
It's always hungry
It can never be satiated
It keeps merging and mixing
It's the most passionate lover that can ever exist
It keeps longing and ever wanting.

It's so graceful and gorgeous you can't help loving it.
It's so voluptuous and wholesome you can't resist biting it.
It's so slender and fast you can't help holding it to your bosom.
Oh! It's the most perverted lover.
You can never judge what it can do to you.

Oh god! One feels complete with it: Nonetheless, Nonethmore.
What more does a being require?
Chase—Power! Money! Sex! Religion! Principles! Ideologies!
I see people running after, all that are perishable.
Come and rest in the Dao: The imperishable fruit.
But remember one can never posses it, as and by, it possesses you.

It's THE NATURE
It's THE Dao
It's THE THING

One who tries to define it fools himself.
It can never be defined.
It can only be felt.
Ah! it's so magnanimous.
It's all for the one who felt it.

What it did can be told?
What it does can be told?
What it will do—can also be told?
Alas! It in itself can never be told.

There isn't any SAGE who has not fallen in love with it.
There isn't any SIDHA who has not fallen in love with it.
There isn't any BUDDHA who has not fallen in love with it.
There isn't any SAINT who has not fallen in love with it.
Yet, they all remain unrequited for her love.
Gifted is the one who beholds with it; in it; and for it.

Remember! It's the root of all that exist.
It the god of all gods
It's the source! It's the source! It's the source!
IT REMAINS AND IT WILL ALWAYS REMAIN:

The uncrowned queen of all the worlds known and unknown