Chapter 1: The Nameless Source (第1章：体道)

道可道，非常道。
名可名，非常名。
無名天地之始；有名萬物之母。
故常無，欲以觀其妙；常有，欲以觀其徼。
此兩者，同出而異名，同謂之玄。
玄之又玄，眾妙之門。
☸

Translation

The Dao that can be spoken is not the eternal Dao;
The name that can be named is not the eternal name.

The nameless is the beginning of Heaven and Earth;
The named is the mother of the ten thousand things.

Therefore, always be without desire to observe its mysteries;
Always be with desire to observe its manifestations.

These two spring from the same source but differ in name;
Together they are called the Mystery.

Mystery upon mystery—the gateway to all wonders.

Key Concepts

  • Dào (道): The Way, the ultimate principle.
  • Wú (無): Non-being, the formless state.
  • Yǒu (有): Being, the manifested world.
  • Xuán (玄): Mystery, dark, profound.
✦ ◆ ✦

📜 Liuren Perspective

In the Liuren (六壬) tradition, the "Nameless" Dao is the primordial source of all Fa (法) or magical power. While we invoke specific names like the Liuren Immortal Master (六壬仙師) or Jiutian Xuannu (九天玄女), we understand these are "Named" emanations of the "Nameless" source.

The practitioner oscillates between Wu (Non-being) and You (Being). In meditation, one enters a state of Wu to observe the Miao (妙)—the subtle, internal workings of spiritual energy. In ritual action, one employs You (intent and name) to observe the Jiao (徼)—the external manifestations and results of the magic.

Understanding that "names are not the eternal names" prevents the practitioner from becoming dogmatically attached to specific ritual forms, recognizing them as tools to access the formless Dao.

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