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Footnote References- Tao Ching

(1):Emptiness. This word here does not refer to its ordinary conception from the ancient Greek mode of thought, i.e. refering to absolute nothingness, vacuum etc. Rather, it is more like Form itself mirrored in another fashion, yet it also at One with form, as the two were but the apparently opposite manifestations of the same, transcendental 'Way', constantly changing and interplaying between themselves. In such a case the barrier between Form and Emptiness would begin to melt down. This fundamental concept is best understood with a famous saying from Buddhism:

Form is emptiness, Emptiness is form.<p> <p>In the context of modern physics a similar idea exists upon the so- called 'vacuum diagrams'. The author believes that a knowledge of the subject may help to ease the possible abtrusiveness of the above Buddhist saying.

(2):wise Sage. This refers to the ideal Sage of Lao Tzu, whose mysterious ways and personality shall be gradually displayed enigmatically within the course of reading the Tao te Ching, especially in Chapter 15. To describe such a sage would be more than impossible, yet he may be basically summed up in three words that shall give some indications as to the character Lao Tzu believes that he should possess: Subtle, mysterious and natural. To avoid future confusions it would be wise for the reader to put aside at this point all his known predispositions concerning what is meant by a 'sage', and try to 'flow' into him again from the text itself. As an additional point of information it may be noted that the sage here is certainly not 'good' in the usual/Confucian sense, for the Taoists strongly argued against all attempts in which to follow the supposed 'Pure Goodness' and denouced such acts as of no lasting virtue whatsoever (reason explained in Appendices); their sage being in essence extremely natural in the sense of being in total harmony with the Tao. Lao Tzu did not teach at that time with the knowledge that there were really such sages these within the world that is not yet forgotten, and he certainly would never persuade others to believe that he himself was one.

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