Stanza 25 is a majestic and cosmic reflection. Laozi steps back to gaze at the origins of all things, describing the Tao as the eternal source behind heaven, earth, and all life. In this passage, he speaks of the primordial mystery that precedes form, naming it only provisionally as "the Way" (Tao 道) and explaining how it moves, expands, returns, and governs, all without effort.
Here, we find not only a metaphysical insight but also a model of natural order, a vision of how human life can mirror the deeper harmony of the cosmos.
The Primordial Presence Before Creation
"Something undifferentiated was born before heaven and earth, still and silent, standing alone and unchanging, going through cycles unending, able to be mother to the world."
Laozi begins with a profound image: a formless presence that existed before duality, separation, and time.
Undifferentiated: Not yet divided into opposites; no this or that, no beginning or end.
Still and silent: Beyond sound, movement, or form; pure potential, perfect emptiness.
Standing alone and unchanging: It is complete and does not depend on anything.
Going through cycles unending: Even though it is still, it generates movement, the cycles of nature, life, death, and rebirth.
Mother to the world: all things emerge from it, though it itself is unborn, uncreated.
This is Laozi's vision of the Tao, not as a god or a force to worship but as the mysterious source of all existence.
The Inability to Name the Eternal
"I do not know it's name; I label it the Way."
Laozi is humble; he doesn't claim to define the Tao because it cannot be grasped by the mind or captured by language. He simply points to it, calling it "the Way" (Tao 道), a word that itself suggests process, path, unfolding, and movement.
The Tao is not a noun; it is a verb, an eternal happening that all things flow from and return to.
The Expansion and Return of the Great Way
"Imposing on it a name, I call it Great. Greatness means it goes; going means reaching afar; reaching afar means return."
Laozi breaks down the nature of the Tao's greatness:
"Great", not in size, but in scope, mystery, and movement.
"It goes"; the Tao is not static, it flows.
"It reaches afar"; its influence extends beyond all boundaries into the furthest reaches of existence.
"It returns," and yet, it always comes back to itself.
This is a beautiful cycle: Creation, Expansion, Distance, and Return. It is at the heart of Taoist cosmology. Everything moves outward and then returns inward. This is also the rhythm of breathing, tides, seasons, and life and death. True greatness does not cling to power; it flows, gives, and returns.
The Four Greats of the Cosmos
"Therefore, the Way is great, heaven is great, earth is great, and kingship is also great. Among domains are four greats, of which kingship is one.
Here, Laozi establishes a cosmic hierarchy of greatness:
The Way (Tao), the origin of all.
Heaven (Tian 天), the vast sky, the divine pattern.
Earth (Di 地), the foundation, the nurturing ground.
Kingship (Wang 王), human governance, aligned with the first three.
This isn't about political power as we know it. In Laozi's view, true rulership is only "great" when it is in harmony with the Tao, just as earth follows heaven, and heaven follows the Tao. To lead well is not to dominate but to serve as a channel for natural harmony.
The Chain of Emulation
"Humanity emulates earth; earth emulates heaven; heaven emulates the Way; the Way emulates Nature."
This is a profound cosmic mirror, showing the pattern of harmony from top to bottom: Humanity should model itself on the Earth by being nurturing, stable, and reliable. Earth follows Heaven by responding to Heaven's cycles, like seasons, weather, and light. Heaven follows the Tao; even the stars and heavens move according to the formless source. The Tao follows Nature (Zi Ran 自然), expressing itself through spontaneity, naturalness, and non-forcing. Nature (Zi Ran 自然) means "self-so" or things as they are, arising organically without interference. The Tao is not separate from life; it is life in its raw, spontaneous truth.
Practical Application
Honor What You Can't Name
- Let go of needing to define or control life.
- Learn to trust the mystery. The Tao cannot be grasped, but it can be followed.
Live in Cycles, Not Straight Lines
- Recognize the natural rhythm of expansion and return.
- Don't resist change or endings; they are part of the Way.
Model Your Life on Nature
- Be grounded like the earth, adaptive like the sky, and flowing like the Tao.
- Simplicity, stillness, and patience lead to harmony.
Lead Without Forcing
- If you are in a position of influence, parent, teacher, or manager, lead by serving the greater flow, not by controlling it.
Return to the Source
- In moments of confusion or exhaustion, return to stillness, silence, and the present moment.
- The Tao is always here, beneath the nose.
Stanza 25 is a soaring vision of the Tao as the primal root, the silent mother, the eternal return behind all form and movement. It reminds us that greatness is not loud, it is still, enduring, and invisible. It reminds us that nature is the best teacher, not through words, but through being itself. It reminds us that our human life can become aligned with heaven, earth, and the Tao, if we choose to follow the Way of Nature.
Let the Tao flow through you. Be part of the great return. Live like the Earth: soft, steady, and full of life.