Tao Te Ching Chapter 40-6 Evident = Vague

Today's Tao

Evident Tao seems vague. (Ch.40)


"We hold these truths to be self-evident", said the founding fathers of the United States of America.

In Far East, things are a bit different.


A: "Would you like to buy our products, Mr Suzuki?"

B: "Yes, yes, yes."

A: "All right. Please sign this contract."

B: "No, no, no."

A: "But, you said 'yes', Mr Suzuki"

B: "Yes, I did. I meant 'Yes, I understood what you said just now', but 'No, I don't want to buy them."


Tao is evident.

Probably, it is too evident to accept.

So, people think it is vague.


Colours are justly nothing. Nothing is justly colours.

色即是空　空即是色

[siki soku ze kuu / kuu soku ze siki]


«Related Articles»
-High samurai 40-1
-Samurai in doubt 40-2
-Laughable Tao 40-3
-If not laughable 40-4
-Chien yen? 40-5
-Evident = Vague 40-6
-Advance = Retreat 40-7
-Smooth = Tangled 40-8
-Highest attainment = Valley 40-9
-Lacking 40-10
-Lazy 40-11
-Changing 40-12
-White = Black 40-13
-Square without corners 40-14
-No completion 40-15
-No voice 40-16
-No form 40-17
-Hidden with no name 40-18
-Generosity 40-19
-Tao by Matsumoto / Tao Te Ching / Chapter 40
-Full = Empty 45-3


Tao answers your question!



-If you want to avoid a situation like above, the movie «Gung Ho» is worth watching. It is an old movie, but old customs never disappear so easily. Besides, I haven't seen any drastic improvement in Japanese citizens' general communication capability in English. Yes, yes, yes still remains no, no, no. Japan is and will be a cultural «Alice in Wonderland» though you might be «Lost in Translation».