Imagine a nebulous thing

here before Heaven and Earth

silent and elusive

it stands alone not wavering

it travels everywhere unharmed

it could be the mother of us all

not knowing its name

I call it the Tao

forced to name it

I name it Great

great means ever-flowing

ever-flowing means far-reaching

far-reaching means returning

the Tao is great

Heaven is great

Earth is great

the king is also great

the realm contains four greats

of these the king is one

Man imitates Earth

Earth imitates Heaven

Heaven imitates the Tao

the Tao imitates itself

Lao-tzu
from The Taoteching