The great Tao has both reality and
expression,
but it does nothing and has no form.
It can be passed on, but not received.
It can be obtained, but not seen.
It is rooted in its own self,
existing before Heaven and Earth were born,
indeed for eternity.
It gives divinity to the spirits and to the heavenly beings.
It brought to life heaven and Earth.
It was before the primal air, yet it
cannot be called lofty:
it was below all space and direction
yet it cannot be called deep.
It comes before either Heaven or Earth,
yet it cannot be called old.
It is far more ancient than antiquity, yet it is not old.
….
The Queen Mother of the West obtained
it,
and was able to take her seat on Shao Kuang Mountain.
no one knew her origin, no one knows her end.