This chapter introduces the concept of the Tao and discusses how it is too great to be defined by a single name. It explains that while the Tao is nameless and eternal, individual things in the world were created and given names to help humans understand them. However, these named things are merely effects that stem from something more subtle and nameless. When people look past names, they can sense the deeper, nameless cause behind all effects. The cause and effects are two aspects of the same thing and are both profound and mysterious, especially at their deepest level known as the "Gate of the Great Truth".

1. Print Form
Chapter 1 -What is the Tao?
The "Tao" is too great to be described by the name "Tao". Original
Chinese
If it could be named so simply, it would not be the eternal Tao.
Heaven and Earth began from the nameless (Tao),
but the multitudes of things around us were created by names.
We desire to understand the world by giving names to the
things we see,
but these things are only the effects of something subtle.
When we see beyond the desire to use names,
we can sense the nameless cause of these effects.
The cause and the effects are aspects of the same, one thing.
They are both mysterious and profound.
At their most mysterious and profound point lies the "Gate of
the Great Truth".
Define SUBTLE delicate or faint and mysterious
Define PROFOUND originating in or penetrating to the depths of one's being
What are some of
the positives that
Some of the positive things that occur when people forget about names and labels is
occur when people
that people can't judge you. They are not able to call you name because of who you are
forget about names
or what you do. People are not able to put themselves higher and everyone would be
and labels?
equal no matter what.
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What is a word
in our language
I think that a word in our language is difficult or impossible to define is love. People tend to
difficult or
over use the word. People also say the word love when they don't even mean it. People don't
impossible to
even know how to express the word word let alone describe the word. Sometimes it takes
define and
years to be able to understand what it feels like to love and to be loved. I think people should
why?
not say the word love unless they really know and understand the true meaning of love.
FILL THE SPACE

2. Chapter 5
Heaven and Earth don't play favorites
They treat everything with equal detachment.
Sages don't play favorites
They treat good people and bad with equal detachment.
Heaven and earth are like a set of bellows.
Although empty, they are endlessly productive.
The more you work them, the more they produce.
The mouth, on the other hand, becomes exhausted if you talk too much.
Better to keep your thoughts inside you.
Define
DETACHMENT
Define BELLOWS
Define SAGE
How can
students behave
more like a set
of bellows?
FILL THE SPACE
Give me one
scenario where
it is better to be
silent than to
speak. Explain
why it is
important to be
quiet.
FILL THE SPACE

3. CHAPTER 8
The highest excellence is like water. The excellence
of water appears in its benefiting all things, and in its occupying,
without striving.
Hence its way is near to that of the Tao.
Define HENCE
According to
chapter 8,
people should
be more like
water.
What
characteristics
does water have
that people
should attempt
to adopt?
FILL THE SPACE

4. Chapter 11
The thirty spokes unite in the center; but it is on the empty
space (for the axle) that makes the wheel useful. Clay is
fashioned into vessels; but it is on their empty hollowness that makes its
useful. The door and windows are cut out from the walls
to form an apartment; but it is the empty space within that makes its useful.
Therefore, it is the empty spaces that makes something useful.
Define FASHIONED
Present other
things in the
world that are
useful because
of the
emptiness it
contains.
FILL THE SPACE

5. Chapter 33
Intelligent people know others.
Enlightened people know themselves.
You can conquer others with power,
But it takes true strength to conquer yourself.
Ambitious people force their will on others,
But content people are already wealthy.
Prudent people will abide.
People unconquered by the idea of death will live long.
Define INTELLIGENT
Define
ENLIGHTENED
Define AMBITIOUS
Define PRUDENT
Define ABIDE
According to the Tao, it is
more important to be
enlightened than
intelligent.
Do you agree or disagree
and why?
FILL THE SPACE
Reword this line into simpler
terms a 6th grader could
understand.
Prudent people will
abide.

6. Chapter 69
Military strategists have a saying:
"Rather than act like the lord of the manor,
I would rather behave like a guest.
Rather than advance an inch,
I would rather retreat a foot."
The point of the saying is that you should:
Advance upon them without going forward
Seize their property without even bearing arms.
Attack where there is no enemy.
Prevail upon them without weapons.
There is no greater disaster than to underestimate your enemy.
If I did that, I would lose my 3 treasures (benevolence, frugality, never trying
to be number one)
In combat, the most reticent side will win.
Define PREVAIL
Define
BENEVOLENCE
Define FRUGALITY
Define RETICENT
Discuss the
reasons whether
or not you agree
with the following
line from Chapter
69:
Prevail upon them
without weapons.
FILL THE SPACE

7. Chapter 76
When alive, the body is supple, yielding.
In death, the body becomes hard, unyielding.
Living plants are flexible,
In death, they become dry and brittle.
Therefore, stubborn people are disciples of death, but
Flexible people are disciples of life.
In the same way,
Inflexible soldiers cannot win (a victory).
And the hardest trees are readiest for an axe to chop them down
Tough guys sink to the bottom, while
Flexible people rise to the top.
Define SUPPLE
Define YIELDING
Define UNYIELDING
Define DISCIPLE
This entire chapter
is a metaphor on
how people are
either like living
plants or dead
trees.
How are people
similar to supple,
living plants and
hard, dead trees?
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