Chapter 1

The Way that can be spoken of is not the constant Way; the name that can be named is not the constant name. Non-being is the beginning of heaven and earth; being is the mother of all things. Therefore, constantly from non-being, one observes the mystery of the Way; constantly from being, one observes the manifestations of the Way. Non-being and being arise from the same source but have different names; both are called profound. Profound and again profound—the gateway to all mysteries.