Present

Determined

Focused

玄之又玄，衆妙之門。

Only by focusing and absorbing oneself into the most obscure dimension of the darkest realm, as if in a sensory deprivation chamber, is it possible to attain a cosmic vision.

Like past the event horizon of a black hole, entering a new breadth and breath.

道德經第六十五章

古之善為道者，非以明民，將以愚之。

民之難治，以其智多。

故以智治國，國之賊；不以智治國，國之福。

知此兩者亦𥡴式。

常知𥡴式，是謂玄德。

玄德深矣，遠矣，與物反矣，然後乃至大順。

Dao De Jing Chapter 65 ー 1997 Alan B. Taplow, 65

    ESTABLISHING HARMONY

    The ancient Sages, knowing the natural Tao,

    Refrained from schooling others in intellectual enlightenment.

    Calculative thinking and strict intellectual processes were discouraged,

    For people were argumentative and difficult t< lead when so schooled.

    Leading -

    Through intellect alone - harmful to all,

    Through encouraging the simple and natural intuitive part of mankind - a blessing to all.

    Understanding the difference between these,

    A test and a standard exist.

    Being able to apply this test and standard,

    Is a profoundly mysterious virtue.

    This Te,

    Being deep, penetrating and far-reaching -

    All Things return to their natural state,

    Bringing the original complete harmony to all.

“Those who know don’t talk

those who talk don’t know

seal the opening

close the gate

dull the edge

untie the tangle

soften the light

and join the dust

this is called the Dark Union

it can’t be embraced

it can’t be abandoned

it can’t be helped

it can’t be harmed

it can’t be exalted

it can’t be debased

thus does the world exalt it”

老子

（道經，第56節，紅松譯, verse 56, translation by Red Pine)

憨山德清 says, “Those who know, value deeds not words. A team of horses can’t overtake the tongue. More talk means more problems.”

TS’AO TAO-CH’UNG says, “Those who grasp the truth forget about words. Those who don’t practice what they talk about are no different from those who don’t know.”

蘇澈 says, “The Tao isn’t talked, but it doesn’t exclude talk. Those who know don’t necessarily talk. Those who talk don’t necessarily know.”

黃元赤 says, “We seal the opening and close the gate to nourish the breath. We dull the edge and untie the tangle to still the spirit. We soften the light and join the dust to adapt to the times and get along with the world.”

李恆濟 says, “By sealing the opening, we guard the exit. By closing the gate, we bar the entrance. By dulling the edge, we adjust the inside. By untying the tangle, we straighten the outside. By softening the light, we focus on ourselves. By joining the dust, we adapt to others. What is devoid of exit and entrance, inside and outside, self and other, we call the Dark Union.”

王濤 says, “The Dark Union unites all things but leaves no visible trace.”

王丕 says, “If something can be embraced, it can be abandoned. If something can be helped, it can be harmed. If something can be exalted, it can be debased.”

德清 says, “Those who know transcend the mundane and the superficial, hence they cannot be embraced. Their utter honesty enables others to see. Hence, they cannot be abandoned. They are content and free of desires. Hence, they cannot be helped. They dwell beyond life and death. Hence, they cannot be harmed. They view high positions as so much dust. Hence, they cannot be exalted. Beneath their rags they harbour jade. Hence, they cannot be debased. Those who know walk in the world, yet their minds transcend the material realm. Hence, they are exalted by the world.”

魏源 says, “Those who seal the opening and close the gate neither love nor hate. Hence, they don’t embrace or abandon anything. Those who dulls the edge and untie the tangle don’t seek help. Thus, they suffer no harm. Those who soften the light and join the dust don’t exalt themselves. Thus, they aren’t debased by others. Forgetting self and others, they experience Dark Union with the Tao. Those who have not yet experienced this Dark Union unite with ‘this’ and separate from ‘that.’ To unite means to embrace, to help, and to exalt. To separate means to abandon, to harm, and to debase. Those who experience Dark Union unite with nothing. From what, then, could they separate?”

And 紅松 Red Pine adds, “Knowing comes before talking. And the Dark Union comes before knowing. It’s called the Dark Union because it precedes the division into subject and object.”