Thirty Spokes share one hub. Adapt the space therein to the purpose in hand, and you will have the use of the cart. Knead clay in order to make a vessel. Adapt the space therein to the purpose in hand, and you will have the use of the vessel. Cut open doors and windows in order to make a room. Adapt the space therein to the purpose in hand, and you will have the use of the room. Thus what we gain is Something, yet it is by virtue of Nothing that this can be put to use.
Chapter 11, Tao Te Ching, translated by D.C. Lau.
Have you ever looked around and seen that everything moves around its own central hub, or point and axis of origin? We could call this point the center of gravity for an object. This point and axis of origin is composed of space, otherwise looked upon and defined as Nothing. We can not define space, yet it contains everything and is singular. Space can be divided up by objects into inner space and outer space. Still there is only one space, undefined, omniscient, and connecting all objects. Space is the mother of all objects and cradles them in a warm and compassionate embrace.
The interconnection of space and movement is called emptiness and forms all objects and thoughts contained therein. Objects and perceptions do not have intrinsic, unchanging existence. Since the objects and their perceptions exist only by virtue of their emptiness, they are illusory, like the image formed by a whirling firebrand or a reflection in a mirror. Cause and effect arise from interconnections. The problem of existence is not the connections. The problem is the clinging to the connections. Gently watch the turning of objects around their space and you will see their joy at play. This joy is an unbounded expression of the limitless freedom for life.
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