32 道常無名

老子道德經第三十二章

道常無名
樸雖小　天下莫能臣
侯王若能守之　萬物將自賓
天地相合　以降甘露
民莫之令而自均

始制有名
名亦既有　夫亦將知止
知止　可以不殆
譬道之在天下　猶川谷之於江海

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THIRTY-TWO

The Tao is forever undefined.
Small though it is in the unformed state, it cannot be grasped.
If kings and lords could harness it,
The ten thousand things would naturally obey.
Heaven and earth would come together
And gentle rain fall.
Men would need no more instruction
and all things would take their course.

Once the whole is divided, the parts need names.
There are already enough names.
One must know when to stop.
Knowing when to stop averts trouble.
Tao in the world is like a river flowing home to the sea.

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32.

He is eternal, and has no name.
He is simple, but invincible.
Follow Him, everything flows;
Nature comes around to nurture all lives;
The universe is in harmony.

When He creates everything,
Each is separated and given a name.
Know that names are only names,
Do not let them take over the essence.
He is the source of everything,
Like all water on earth returns to the sea.