弘明集 1.8

1.8

問曰。何謂之為道。道何類也。牟子曰。道之言導也。導人致於無為。牽之無前。引之無後。舉之無上。抑之無下。視之無形。聽之無聲。四表為大蜿蜒其外。毫釐為細間關其內。故謂之道。

Someone asked: 'What is meant by the Dao? What is the Dao like?' Mouzi said: 'The word Dao means "to guide." It guides people to reach non-action. Pulling it, there is no front; drawing it, there is no rear; lifting it, there is no above; depressing it, there is no below. Looking at it, it has no shape; listening to it, it has no sound. The four boundaries are vast, yet it coils outside them; a fraction of an inch is minute, yet it passes through inside them. Therefore, it is called the Dao.'