This is my translation of the fourth chapter.
Translation:
If Tao were a cup (vessel), it is one which can contain every thing,
and cannot be fully filled.
Comments:
Tao is very usable in all aspects of our daily lives. In each circumstance,
it opens up limitless possibilities, and its potential cannot be exhausted.
Translation:
It is deep, profound and full of life force, it is as if the mother
of all things.
Comments:
Tao is deep and profound. Even the birth and death of all things, follow
the way of the Tao. Hence Tao is also full of life force.
Translation:
After understanding Tao, it will:
Humble your ego, Solve your troubles;
Harmonize your perspectives, Integrate you with the way of all things.
Comments:
This verse gives a glimpse of the outcome of the highest attainment
in Taoism, which is to be one with the way of all things (Tao). Such person
would be humble, untroubled and whose perspectives are harmonious. Hence
we should aspire to be humble, resolve to end our troubles, and be harmonious
in our perspectives. In this way, we can more easily be one with the way
of all things.
Translation:
The Tao is clear indeed, yet (to the untrained) it is almost invisible.
Comments:
This verse encourages the untrained not to be frustrated when they
cannot see the ‘way’ (Tao). The Tao will become clear with progressive
training. Hence one should diligently train oneself.
Translation:
I do not know when the principle of Tao started, but it definitely
existed before the birth of all phenomenon.
Comments:
The chapter ends with questioning the origin of Tao. It suffices to
know that it is the way of all things, since the beginning of all phenomenon.
Conclusion:
As the first chapter said, the true Tao cannot be precisely described.
Hence this chapter attempts to describe what Tao is, by using analogies.
It drives home the point that Tao is profound, and yet is the way of all
things, since the beginning of time. Its knowledge has the transformative
power of integrating oneself to the way of all things. This is a high goal
in Taoism, which is to be one with the nature (harmony). When we are such,
we would be very humble, untroubled, and our perspective to all things
would be harmonious.
Send me your comments.