What is Tao?

The Tao that can be put into words is not the eternal, unchanging Tao. The name that can be named is not the eternal, unchanging name. When it has no name, it is the beginning of heaven and earth. When it has a name, it is the mother of all things. So if you always keep your heart pure and free of desire, you can sense the subtle mystery within the Tao. If you always carry desires and chase after things, you can see the outer edges of the Tao. These two states come from the same source, though they are called by different names. Both can be called deep and mysterious. Mystery upon mystery—this is the gateway to all wonders.