#11*

Thirty wheel spokes
sharing one hub.
The empty space in
the middle has the
usefulness to a cart.

Knead clay to make a
vessel. The empty space
in the middle has
usefulness to the vessel.

Cutting the door and
the window to make
a room, the empty
space in the middle
has usefulness to
the room.

Therefore, as having
has utility,
nothingness has
usefulness.[1]

*Translation by LU Wenlong & Keith Wayne Brown, ©2013.


[1] All things with an empty aspect as exampled here by Laozi, “have” emptiness. Thus, “nothing” is useful. 

Keith "Maggie" Brown Avatar

Published by

2 responses to “Daodejing 11”

  1. Michael R. Dale Avatar

    make space for wu. One of my favourite verses. This I ponder you may enjoy. Though nothing more than a mad layman’s ramblings:

    THE WAY IS NOT THE WAY (AND IT IS)

    August 23, 2013
    The way is not the way
    Only not the way
    Is the way
    Thus the way is the way.

    Namaste

    http://mrmichaeldale.com/2013/08/23/the-way-is-not-the-way-and-it-is/

Leave a comment

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.