Two Clusters of Meaning of Dao in Laozi

A.    Dao as the way of nature, or the principle underlying all things:
  • Ineffable, beyond verbal and conceptual expression
  • Mysterious, obscure, never clearly or sharply perceived
  • Origin, Mother, principle of fertility
  • Inherently dynamic, changing
  • Constant, unchanging
  • Simple, unadorned, uncontrived (uncarved block)
  • Empty, vacuous, pure potential, inexhaustible
  • Indifferent to human values, purposeless

B.    Dao as a way of life:

  • Nourishing and valuing life
  • Achieving longevity (long life), immortality
  • Stillness, quiescence
  • Yielding, non-contention, "feminine" virtues, water
  • Non-action (wuwei)
  • Spontaneity (ziran)
  • Creativity
  • Statecraft