Chapter 5 : 天地不仁

天地不仁，以万物为刍狗。圣人不仁，以百姓为刍狗。天地之间，其犹橐龠乎？虚而不屈，动而愈出。多言数穷，不如守中。

The Universe is not indifferent; it has no ulterior motives; neither is it partial to favouritism. Yet it provides matter to all & feeds the cosmos. The wise is not detached, nor apathetic; it provides the spark to ignite fire. The vast void may seem empty, yet has endless rejuvenating forces. When one imposes too many rigid & countless advice, the less effective it is. One should maintain an appropriate moderate stance.

道冲，而用之或不盈，渊兮，似万物之宗。挫其兑，解其纷，和其光，同其尘，湛兮似或存。吾不知谁之子，象帝之先。

Chapter 4 : 万物之宗

Dao is a virtual body, but it is not nothing, yet contains the material for creation of the universe. Diminish the sharpness, separate the entanglement, soften the glare, accommodate the dust ; esoteric and paradoxical, it is so. We know not the creation of Dao, yet it must come before the supreme.

Logos & Dao

Some scholars have put Lao Zi’s “Dao” with the ancient Greek philosopher Heraclite’s “logos” par, that the two categories of content is very close. Heraclite’s “logos” is eternal existence, everything is produced by “logos”. But it is not any god or any person created, but to create the seeds of the world, is called “ether” object. “Logis” is everywhere in nature and human society, but people can not feel its existence, but its existence is true. Lao Zi’s “Dao” also has the “logos” of these attributes and functions, the image of the two are very similar.