One of my reference texts has an asterisk at the top of this verse that translates to, “This chapter speaks of the Body of the Dao; why is it in the Integrity (Dé) section?”
Great question, Luo Yijun!
A teaser at the end of Verse 25 states, “Weaving the Way shapes the Dao.”
We are active participants in the unfolding process of our lives, whether consciously or unconsciously. Much of meditative living involves uncovering the principles behind “mind of matter” processes and becoming proficient at utilizing those principles.
Let’s dig in.
Translation
Returning. Dao’s movement.
Softening. Dao’s function.
All That Is is born through “activity” activity is born of “potential.”
“Uncontainable vastness, surpassing all boundaries, folding in on itself.”
“Folding in on itself” and “Returning” point to the dynamic interplay of one becoming many and many returning to the one, which we will encounter specifically in Verse 42. Such phrasing makes this all seem rather abstract, and while teasing out cosmic principles is neat, the functional lesson is in how consciousness works.
In brief, there is a moment of pure potential. This is the “one.” Visualizing it as a point, a singularity without dimension, can be helpful.
Activity happens, and the point becomes a line. A line is a two-dimensional (subject/object) thing.
A miracle happens! The subject becomes aware of itself as having the experience of an object, and a functional, dynamic triad is formed.
That triad immediately collapses back into the point of pure potentiality while the “perfume” of the immediately previous experience lingers.
This is the functional point. Bringing awareness and intention to how the “Self” interprets the relationship between the subject and the object determines the type and strength of the “perfume” that lingers to influence the next expansion. This process is how all the “Mind over Matter” stuff works. Logos. The power to create your reality. Etc. Meditative living training develops the capacity to influence the “perfuming” process consciously.
The whole process begins again, having folded in on itself. Like the infinity symbol expanding and reconverging at a point. Fun tidbit: the technical term for the infinity symbol is “lemniscate.”
Softening. Dao’s function.
We can’t help but soften when we harmonize with the unfolding processes of life. If we don’t soften by choice, life will soften us by becoming so hard that we must find another way. At least that’s my experience!
This softening isn’t anything other than flowing with the interplay of potential becoming activity and activity becoming potential. Well, with one caveat.
The unfolding process of life includes creation and destruction, what we love and hate, the good and the bad. Life force doesn’t make these distinctions; they are part of how individual “Self” relates to things. “Softening” in Weaving the Way also means softening our opinions and judgments to harmonize with life’s more profound truths. This principle was first mentioned in verse 3.
All That Is is born through “activity” activity is born of “potential.”
While the process is cyclical, human wisdom traditions tell us that the beginning point is (and continues to be) potential. Whether you want to think of it as the Big Bang, the moment God spoke creation into existence, or any other origin story, they all boil down to potential energy becoming kinetic. Potential energies self-organize into temporal objects, and objects dissolve back to their potential energies.
Understanding returning, softening, and potential as the starting point, we get to actively use the principles of the Dao to transform our lives.
