一章

　　道，可道，非恒道。名，可名，非恒名。无名，天地之始；有名，万物之母
。故常无欲，以观其妙；常有欲，以观其徼。此两者同出而异名，同谓之玄。玄
之又玄，众妙之门。

Chapter 1. The Way

The Way that can be experienced is not true;

The world that can be constructed is not true.

The Way manifests all that happens and may happen;

The world represents all that exists and may exist.

To experience without intention is to sense the world;

To experience with intention is to anticipate the world.

These two experiences are indistinguishable;

Their construction differs but their effect is the same.

Beyond the gate of experience flows the Way,

Which is ever greater and more subtle than the world.