Translation

The great way flows, such as it may left and right.
All things on earth depend on it for existence and it never declines,
Meritorious accomplishment  yet anonymous.
Clothes and supports all things on earth yet not act as master
Always without desire, befits the name small.
All things on earth return here, Why?
Not being their master, befits the name great.
Because of its ultimate non-self,  it becomes great.
Hence it can accomplish its greatness.

big (great) road (way, principle; speak; think) float (be suffused with; flood; inundate)兮, his (its, he, it, that; such) approve (befits, can, but; yet) the left and right sides (around; about).

all things on earth rely on (depend on) of use (take; so as to_and; as well as) give birth to (existence) <conj.> no diction (take leave; decline; shirk),

merit (achievement) accomplish (succeed; become) <conj.> no name (fame; reputation) have (exist).

clothing support (raise; keep; grow; foster) all things on earth <conj.> no do (act as; be, mean; support) host (owner, master),

ordinary (normal; constant; often) nothing (without; not) desire (longing; wish; want; about to) approve (befits, can, but; yet) name (fame; reputation) at (in, from, to) small (little; for a while; young).

all things on earth rely on go back to (return; give back to; come together) here (herein; (usu. neg question) how; why),

<conj.> no do (act as; be, mean; support) host (owner),  approve (befits, can, but; yet) name (fame; reputation) do (act as; be, mean; support) big (great).

use (take; so as to_and; as well as) his (its, he, it, that; such) end (death; eventually; after all; whole; all) no self (oneself; certainly) do (act as; be, mean; support) big (great),

happening (reason; cause; on purpose; hence) can (be able to) accomplish (succeed; become) his (its, he, it, that; such) big (great).

Original

大道泛兮，
其可左右。
万物恃之以生而不辞，
功成而不名有。
衣养万物而不为主，
常无欲可名於小。
万物归焉，
而不为主，
可名为大。
以其终不自为大，
故能成其大。

Commentary, November 2009

Left as well as right applies across the board: political, religious, moral issues, yin and yang, etc. Saying, ‘The great way flows, such as it may left and right‘ is simply another way to consider mysterious sameness. It is remarkable that we can even see this deeper aspect of Nature considering how unavoidably drawn we are to see reality in contrasting shades of color (or black and white if you’re color blind). It is differences that stimulates awareness; sameness just puts us to sleep.

‘Because of its ultimate non-self, it becomes great‘ is one more way to consider the illusion of self. What causes this illusion? Buddha nailed it with his ‘the illusion of self originate and manifests itself in a cleaving to things‘. Yet, perhaps there is something still more fundamental happening here.

Clearly, we cling (cleave) to ideas, things, memories, beliefs, kith and kin. Indeed, anything that can be clung to, someone will be found to be clinging. Meritorious accomplishment, clothes, mastery, desire, are just the tip of the iceberg. Why do we cling so? Let’s consider our powerful urge to cling as a symptom and see where that leads. For example, if you saw me clinging to a branch, you could assume I was hanging from a tree or off the edge of a cliff. I’d be clinging to stop myself plunging to death. The fear of falling drives me to cling⁽¹⁾.

The implication here: We cling to things and ideas in order to avoid plunging down into an abyss of stillness and emptiness. Our extreme reliance on words and names creates a highly structured field of awareness. Ensuing illusions of future, past, and present, along with the clear-cut differences we use to maintain those illusions, paints us into a perceptual corner. It feels safe there, but because the ’safe there’ is only make believe, we also feel insecure there. We know the void is lurking just behind the veil of what we think that [we] know. No wonder we have difficulty.

⁽¹⁾ The irony in this example is that the self I’m protecting first originated and now manifests itself in a cleaving to things. The illusion of self I’ve created must now cling to that from which it originated, otherwise it fears it will plunge into a silent and void oblivion, a death of self. It is a vicious circle of sorts. Although, you could say all of existence is as well: It is on disaster that good fortune perches; It is beneath good fortune that disaster crouches. Okay, time to stop; I’ve done enough damage for one night.