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{{mergeto|Taoism}}
[[File:Ancient version of the Taijitu by Lai Zhi-De, sideways.svg|thumb|right| The Tao that can be told is not the [[Eternity|eternal]] Tao;<br> The [[name]] that can be named is not the eternal name.<br> [[The nameless]] is the beginning of [[heaven]] and [[earth]]. ~ [[Laozi]] ]]
[[File:Pakua with name.svg|thumb|right| Ever desireless, one can see the [[mystery]].<br> Ever desiring, one can see the manifestations. ~ [[Laozi]] ]]
'''[[w:Tao|Tao]]''' (or '''Dao''') is a term used for concepts central or fundamental to many Chinese and eastern philosophies, especially '''[[Taoism]]''', where it is comparable to some notions of ''[[w:Logos|Logos]]'', the ''[[w:Monad (Greek philosophy)|Monad]]'', or [[God]] in western philosophies, some notions of ''[[Dharma]]'' or [[Brahman]] in Indian philosophies, and some notions of the [[w:Great Spirit|Great Spirit]] (or "Great [[Mystery]]") in Native American traditions. The word itself translates as "way", "path", or "route", or sometimes more loosely as "doctrine" or "principle", and is often used to signify the fundamental or true nature of [[Reality]].
== Quotes ==
* '''The Tao that can be told is not the [[Eternity|eternal]] Tao;<br> The [[name]] that can be named is not the eternal name.'''<br> [[The nameless]] is the beginning of [[heaven]] and [[earth]]. <br> The named is the [[mother]] of ten thousand things.<br> Ever desireless, one can see the [[mystery]].<br> Ever desiring, one can see the manifestations.<br> These two spring from the same source but differ in name;<br> this appears as darkness.<br> [[Darkness]] within darkness.<br> The gate to all [[mystery]].
** [[Laozi|Laozi (Lao Tzu)]], in ''[[w:Tao Te Ching|Tao Te Ching]]'' Ch. 1, as translated by Gia-Fu Feng & Jane English (1972)
* '''Tao has [[reality]] and evidence but no [[action]] or physical form.''' It may be transmitted but cannot be received. It may be obtained but cannot be seen. It is based in itself, rooted in itself. Before Heaven and Earth came into being, Tao existed by itself for all time. It gave spirits and rulers their spiritual powers. It created Heaven and Earth. It is above the zenith but is not high. It is beneath the nadir but is not low. It is prior to Heaven and Earth but is not old. It is more ancient than the highest antiquity but is not regarded as long ago.
** [[Zhuangzi| Zhuangzi (Chuang Tzu)]], as quoted in ''A source Book in Chinese Philosophy'' (1969) by Wing-tsit Chan, p. 194
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