Indian stream·Tao Te Ching·Chapter 32 — The Nameless Uncarved Block
Though small, the world cannot subjugate it
The Tao is eternal nameless. Small as the uncarved block (pǔ), yet no one can subjugate it. When rulers can hold it, the ten thousand things will of themselves submit; heaven and earth will unite to send sweet dew.
Source context
- Theme
- the unnameable Tao as undivided ground that differentiates into named multiplicity, with the wise ruler's non-coercive governance sustaining that original wholeness
- Soul-faculty
- Consciousness Soul
Steiner
not engaged in the GA corpus
Cross-tradition
- Advaita VedantaThe Upanishadic teaching of Brahman as the undifferentiated ground (nirguna Brahman) that precedes and underlies all named distinctions shows cross-tradition congruence with the Tao's status as the unnamed source from which the ten-thousand things emerge.
- Neoplatonism (Plotinus, Enneads)Plotinus's account of the One as utterly simple and prior to all predication, from which Nous and multiplicity emanate, shows cross-tradition congruence with Chapter 32's depiction of the unnameable Tao that differentiates into named form while remaining itself undivided.
- Kabbalah (Ein Sof)The Kabbalistic concept of Ein Sof as the boundless, name-transcending divine ground before the emanation of the sefirot displays cross-tradition congruence with the Tao that has no name yet is the root of heaven and earth.
Chapter 32
The Tao, considered as unchanging, has no name.
Though in its primordial simplicity it may be small, the whole world dares not deal with (one embodying) it as a minister. If a feudal prince or the king could guard and hold it, all would spontaneously submit themselves to him.
Heaven and Earth (under its guidance) unite together and send down the sweet dew, which, without the directions of men, reaches equally everywhere as of its own accord.
As soon as it proceeds to action, it has a name. When it once has that name, (men) can know to rest in it. When they know to rest in it, they can be free from all risk of failure and error.
The relation of the Tao to all the world is like that of the great rivers and seas to the streams from the valleys.