DDJ 1: Presence or Absence of Desire

Dec 28 / Bernard Shannon

故恒无欲, 以衬其眇.

恒有欲, 以衬其徼. 

Thus, remaining free of desire, the mystery reveals itself.

Full of desire, you see the manifestations.

These two lines are from Chapter 1 of the Dao De Jing. These lines illustrate the duality and interplay between the presence or absence of desire, the dual nature of perception and existence, and the ways they reveal different aspects of reality.

故恒无欲, 以衬其眇. Thus, constant non-desire reveals its subtlety.

故恒无欲, Thus, remaining free of desire…

• 故 (gù): therefore, thus, or for this reason
• 恒 (héng): constant, perpetual, or continuous.
• 无 (wú): no, not, without.
• 欲 (yù): desire or craving.

以衬其眇 …the mystery reveals itself. 

• 以 (yǐ): to use, in order to, or to.
• 衬 (chèn): to support, to complement, to set off or to highlight. It suggests the idea of providing a foundation or lens that allows something to be better seen or understood.
• 其 (qí): its or his/her, a possessive referring to the subject of the sentence.
• 眇 (miǎo): something subtle, small, delicate, or mysterious. It represents the profound, hidden aspects of reality that can only be grasped through quiet contemplation and detachment.

In translating this line, it suggests that when one maintains a state of non-desire, they can perceive the subtle, profound, and imperceptible aspects of existence (眇 miǎo). When free from the distractions of longing, one aligns with the Dao, gaining insight into its unmanifested, infinite nature. This state fosters clarity and understanding of the universe’s essence.

It indicates the ineffable, elusive, or profound aspect of the Dao that cannot be easily grasped by the senses or ordinary understanding. It often refers to the unseen, unmanifested nature of reality.

恒有欲, 以衬其徼. Constant desire reveals its boundaries.

恒有欲, Full of desire, 

• 恒 (héng): constant, perpetual, or continuous.
• 有 (yǒu): to have
• 欲 (yù): desire or craving. 

以衬其徼. you see the manifestations.

• 以 (yǐ): to use, in order to, or to.
• 衬 (chèn): to support, to complement, to set off or to highlight. It suggests the idea of providing a foundation or lens that allows something to be better seen or understood.
• 其 (qí): its or his/her, a possessive referring to the subject of the sentence.
• 徼 (jiào): boundaries, limits, or manifestations. It represents the tangible, observable aspects of reality, the finite or limited forms that arise from the Dao’s infinite potential.

This translation of the line suggests that through the presence of desire, one perceives the tangible, defined, and manifest aspects of the world. 

Desire anchors perception to the material and finite aspects of existence, highlighting distinctions and limits (徼 jiào). 

If we seek to see, hear, understand intellectually this mysterious, nameless cosmic process Dao, we will only see and understand the material world. While this focus is necessary for engaging with the physical world, it obscures the Dao’s infinite subtleties. Desire (欲 yù) inhibits peace and serenity, and in fact, it may ultimately prevent full awakening.

In sum, these phrases reflect the Daoist emphasis on balance and perspective. By understanding both the subtlety revealed in desirelessness and the boundaries exposed through desire, one can approach life with greater harmony. 

Daoism does not reject desire outright but encourages a mindful awareness of its effects on perception and connection to the Dao.

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