Instead of a philosophical system, Lao-Tzu struggled to express a sense of the ultimate, underlying, great principle, rule, or cause of “the way all things are”. The harder he tried to describe the Tao, the more his explanation strayed from the reality of the Tao. The Tao Te Ching is full of paradoxes, Yin and Yang, and attempts to describe the indescribable. He tries to "say without saying" or "discuss what can not be discussed". He claims the Tao cannot be "trapped" with words. Copy these two versions of verse one of the Tao Te Ching at the bottom of page 3 of your Reading and Discussion Guide. Watch the video and then answer this question at the bottom of page 3, What is Lao-Tzu trying to say when he claims to "say without saying"?

Verse 1:

The Tao that can be told of
Is not the absolute Tao.
The Names that can be given
Are not the Absolute Names.
The Nameless is the origin of Heaven and Earth
The Named is the Mother of all things.

Vese 1:

As for the Way
The way that can be spoken of is not the Constant Way.
As for Names
The name that can be named is not the Constant Name
The Nameless is the beginning of ten thousand things.
The Named is the mother of ten thousand things.