This chapter introduces the concept of the Tao and discusses how it is too great to be defined by a single name. While names were created to describe and understand the multitude of things in the world, these things are merely effects of something more subtle. When we look past names and labels, we can sense the nameless cause behind these effects. At the most profound level, this cause lies at the "Gate of the Great Truth".

1. Chapter 1 -What is the Tao?
The "Tao" is too great to be described by the name "Tao".
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".
Original
Chinese
Define SUBTLE
Define PROFOUND
What are some of
the positives that
occur when people
forget about names
and labels?
FILL THE SPACE
What is a word
in our language
difficult or
impossible to
define and
why?
FILL THE SPACE
Print Form
Adjective-sly.
adjective-of deep meaning
Without labels everyone would be treated equally. people would not be judged if we
didn't have labels. With labels you don't really know the true personality of a person.
Without labels you can really understand and know what a person is like. Some people
lose self-esteem because they are labeled. People have more self-esteem when they are
not labeled.
Love is a difficult word in our language to define. It is hard to define because people use it in
many different ways. It is hard to define also because it is hard to understand and explain.
Love is hard to define because it is usually used to explain how someone feels about
something or someone else. Also love is hard to define because it is used in a general sense
instead of using it as how you feel, the way it was meant.

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
Noun-freedom from prejudice or partiality
Noun-device that can be expanded to draw in air through a valve and contracted to expel it through a tube
Noun-a profoundly wise person
Students can take in what they learn and give it back to a younger generation. They can also
take in knowledge from their parents and give it back to their kids. They can also take in
information from their grandparents and tell it back to their younger siblings, who might not
know their grandparents. Students can also Take in knowledge they learn from all their
classes and tell it back to people who maybe don't have the privilege to go to schoole
because they are in a lees fortunate country.
One scenario where it is better to be quiet than to speak is when you are in court and you
have not been asked to speak. Another scenario where it is better to be quiet than to speak
is when you are being arrested because you could say something that could cause the police
to suspect you are guilty of the crime they are arresting you for. It is better to be quiet than
to talk because you might say something you don't mean and someone could take it
offensively. you might contradict yourself so it is better to be quiet than to speak. It is better
to be silent than to speak because you might "stick your foot in your mouth" and not mean
the way you said something.

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
Adverb-therefore
Water is able to go around things, so people should go around an obstacle instead of just
giving up. Water can withstand an immense amount of force because of its strong bond,
so people should be able withstand a lot of things. Water goes with the flow. People
should go with the flow because it is less difficult to go with the flow than to fight the
current.

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
Verb-make
A bowl is useful because it is empty, when it is full it is useless until it is empty again. A bag is
useful because it is empty, it is useless when it is full. A closet is useful until it is full of clothes
then you can't use it add more clothes anymore. A dresser is useful when it is empty, until it is
full of clothes. A garbage can is useful until it is full. Also a room is useful when it is empty. A
car is useful when it is empty. A trunk is useful when it is empty. Also a seater chest is useful
until it is full. A cabinet is useful until it is full. Containers are useful until they are full.

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.
Adjective-having good understanding or a high mental capacity
Verb-impart knowledge to
Adjective-eager
Adjective-careful in providing for the future
Verb-to continue in a particular condition, attitude, relationship, etc.;

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
Verb-To be or become effective
Noun-desire to do good to others
Adjective-desire to do good to others
Adjective-reserved

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?
FILL THE SPACE
Adjective-flexible
Verb-to give forth or produce
Adjective- inflexible
Noun-follower