What is Xuan zhi you xuan 玄之又玄 in Taoism?

What is Xuan zhi you xuan 玄之又玄 in Taoism?

Paul Peng
"Xuan zhi you xuan" (literally "mysterious and more mysterious") describes the subtlety and invisibility of the Dao. Later, it is often used to refer to something extremely profound and hard to comprehend.

It comes from Laozi (Tao Te Ching): "The nameless is the beginning of heaven and earth; the named is the mother of all things. Therefore, always be without desire to observe its subtlety; always be with desire to observe its manifestations. These two emerge from the same source but have different names; together they are called 'xuan' (mysterious). Xuan zhi you xuan (mysterious and more mysterious) is the gateway to all subtleties."
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Paul Peng — Zhengyi Taoist Priest, Longhu Mountain

About the Author

Paul Peng

Paul Peng is a Zhengyi Taoist priest from Longhu Mountain, Jiangxi — the ancestral home of the Celestial Masters' tradition. Ordained at 25 after a dream from the Celestial Master, he has practiced for 25 years under Master Zeng Guangliang. He is the curator of this store, which is officially authorized by Tianshi Fu. All items are consecrated at the temple by the resident priest team.

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