Dao belongs to the metaphysical realm. We cannot perceive it through sight, hearing or touch.
The five colors blind the eyes;the five tones deafen the ears;the five flavors dull the palate;galloping and hunting madden the heart;rare and precious goods lead one’s conduct astray. Thus, the sage seeks fulfillment for the belly, not for the eyes—therefore he discards the one and chooses the other.
From the very first chapter of the Dao De Jing (Tao Te Ching), Laozi establishes the ineffability of the Dao: “The Dao that can be named is not the eternal Dao.” To facilitate understanding, Chapter 8 employs the metaphor of water, whose virtuous behavior embodies the paradigm of the Daoist cultivator.
The valley spirit never dies; it is called the mysterious feminine.The gateway of the mysterious feminine is called the root of heaven and earth.Everlasting and yet seemingly faint, its use is inexhaustible.
Chapter 5 of the Dao De Jing (Tao Te Ching) embodies Laozi’s philosophy on the operation of the Dao, the cosmic harmony between heaven and humanity, and the fundamental equality of all phenomena.
Chapter 4 of the Dao De Jing (Tao Te Ching) describes the ontological nature and functioning of the Dao.