“The Tao that can be told of is not the abiding Tao”. What does this mean?

Ciccarelli: Psychology_5 (5th Edition)
5th Edition
ISBN:9780134477961
Author:Saundra K. Ciccarelli, J. Noland White
Publisher:Saundra K. Ciccarelli, J. Noland White
Chapter1: The Science Of Psychology
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“The Tao that can be told of is not the abiding Tao”. What does this mean?
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This quote is the opening line of the Tao Te Ching, a text written by the ancient Chinese philosopher Lao Tzu, and it is often used to summarize the central idea of the Taoist philosophy. The statement "The Tao that can be told of is not the abiding Tao" suggests that the true essence of the Tao cannot be fully expressed in words or described through language, and that any attempt to do so will inevitably fall short.

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