Daodejing - Chapter Six

 

Painting, hanging scroll. Laozi on water buffalo, holding scroll in right hand. Signed and sealed.

 by Igarashi Shunmel, 18th century, paint and ink on silk

道德經  - 第六章

谷神不死，是謂玄牝。

玄牝之門，是謂天地根。

綿綿若存，用之不勤。

Daodejing - Chapter Six

The Dao is called the great mother.

Empty yet inexhaustible, it gives birth to infinite worlds.

It is always present within you. 

You can use it any way you want.

References

1. The above translation is based on the translation by poet, translator, scholar and anthologist, Stephen Mitchell.  His reading of the work can be found on the following YouTube video: Tao Te Ching, The Book Of The Way by Lao Tzu: https://youtu.be/t109UFLSQhk?t=929
2. This chapter on the above video starts at 15:29 and ends at 15:55.
3. You can find the complete 81 chapters of Daodejing in Chinese and English (James Legge version) in the ctext.org website: https://ctext.org/dao-de-jing