《道德經第十四章》

‘A Rolling Stone is ever Bare of Moss’, William Blake, 1821

視之不見，名曰夷；聽之不聞，名曰希；搏之不得，名曰微。

此三者不可致詰，故混而為一。

其上不皦，其下不昧。

繩繩不可名，復歸於無物。

是謂無狀之狀，無物之象，是謂惚恍。

迎之不見其首，隨之不見其後。

執古之道，以御今之有。

能知古始，是謂道紀。

Dao De jing Chapter Fourteen ― Alan B. Taplow 14 THE MYSTICAL TAO

    Looking for it, it cannot be seen ―

    Being formless, it is called 夷, the invisible.

    Listening to it, it cannot be heard ―

    Being soundless, it is called 希, the inaudible.

    Grasping at it, it cannot be reached ―

    Being subtle, it is called 微, the intangible.

    These three; imperceptible, indescribable ―

    Mystically united and elusively perceived

    as an undefinable oneness.

    As the oneness ascends ― no light appears.

    As the oneness descends ― no darkness is perceived.

    Unceasingly, continually, form eluding definition,

    Evasively reverting to spirit ― to nothingness.

    The form of formlessness.

    The image of imagelessness.

    The oneness remains nameless.

    Meeting it, it has no part which is front.

    Following it, it has no behind.

    Encompassing the ancient Dao,

    Present affairs are mastered.

    Knowing the primal nature of mankind

    and the universe,

    Is to know the essence of Dao.

Dao De jing Chapter Fourteen ― James Legge (The manifestation of the mystery)

We look at it, and we do not see it, and we name it 'the Equable.' We listen to it, and we do not hear it, and we name it 'the Inaudible.' We try to grasp it, and do not get hold of it, and we name it 'the Subtle.' With these three qualities, it cannot be made the subject of description; and hence we blend them together and obtain The One. Its upper part is not bright, and its lower part is not obscure. Ceaseless in its action, it yet cannot be named, and then it again returns and becomes nothing. This is called the Form of the Formless, and the Semblance of the Invisible; this is called the Fleeting and Indeterminable. We meet it and do not see its Front; we follow it, and do not see its Back. When we can lay hold of the Dao of old to direct the things of the present day, and are able to know it as it was of old in the beginning, this is called (unwinding) the clue of Dao.

Dao De jing Chapter Fourteen ― Arthur Waley 14

Because the eye gazes but can catch no glimpse of it,

It is called elusive.

Because the ear listens but cannot hear it,

It is called the rarefied.

Because the hand feels for it but cannot find it,

It is called the infinitesimal.

These three, because they cannot be further scrutinized,

Blend into one,

Its rising brings no light;

Its sinking, no darkness.

Endless the series of things without name

On the way back to where there is nothing.

They are called shapeless shapes;

Forms without form;

Are called vague semblance.

Go towards them, and you can see no front;

Go after them, and you see no rear.

Yet by seizing on the Way that was

You can ride the things that are now.

For to know what once there was, in the Beginning,

This is called the essence of the Way.