The name that can be named is not the eternal name

The name that can be named is not the eternal Name. Unnamed is the beginning of heaven and earth. With a name, the mother of all creation.

        --from the Dao De Jing (道德經), by Laozi (老子, a half-mythical figure of ancient China)

ming ke ming, fei chang ming.  wu ming tian di zhi shi; you ming wan wu zhi mu.

名可名，非常名。無名天地之始；有名萬物之母。

Comments

[Jon]

This is the beginning of the Tao Te Ching. I have an understanding of it. My understanding is once you name something you give it form. Once you give something form you are "seeing" it through your filters, paradigms, perceptions. You're not seeing it as it really is anymore.