= [[Tao Te Ching]], 1 =

 The Way that can be experienced is not true;
 The world that can be constructed is not real.
 The Way manifests all that happens and may happen;
 The world represents all that exists and may exist.


 To experience without abstraction is to sense the world;
 To experience with abstraction is to know the world.
 These two experiences are indistinguishable;
 Their construction differs but their effect is the same.

 Beyond the gate of experience flows the Way,
 Which is [[ever greater and more subtle than the world]].

= A song, by Fastball =

 they made up their minds and they started packing
 they left before the sun came up that day
 an exit to eternal summer slacking
 but where were they going without ever knowing the way?

 they drank up the wine and they got to talking
 they now had more important things to say
 and when the car broke down, they started walking
 but where were they going without ever knowing the way?

 anyone can see the road that they walk on is paved in gold
 and it's always summer, they'll never get cold
 they'll never get hungry
 they'll never get old and gray
 you can see the shadows wandering off somewhere
 they won't make it home, but they don't really care
 they wanted the highway, they're happier there today, today

 the children woke up and they couldn't find them
 they left before the sun came up that day
 they just drove off and left it all behind them
 but where were they going without ever knowing the way?

 anyone can see the road that they walk on is paved in gold
 and it's always summer, they'll never get cold
 they'll never get hungry
 they'll never get old and gray
 you can see the shadows wandering off somewhere
 they won't make it home, but they don't really care
 they wanted the highway, they're happier there today, today

<[[Brennen]]> When this song saw massive radio play, I was in the throes of my first [[Babylon 5]] experience. I could never quite escape associating that with the "shadows" line, and so maybe I have a greater affection for the tune than I ought. Still, good song.