Door to Source of Creation 玄牝之門

Based on the verses - Mount Spirit and True Teaching Hidden in the Eyes, we have gathered the following ideas:

• The place and starting point of cultivation are the beginning of the mind.

• That is also the home of our spirits and the center of our beings.

• It is where the wondrous mind of nirvana can be found.

• It is where the formless ultimate reality can be seen.

• It is what the marvelous method of practice is based on.

You may find yourself pondering - "Is there more to this enigmatic hidden place?" The answer, as we will discover, is a resounding yes.

Let us turn to a Daoist verse from chapter 6 of the Dao De Jing. This verse will not only deepen but also widen our understanding of this hidden place, revealing its profound significance.

道德經, 第六章

谷神不死，是謂玄牝。玄牝之門，是謂天地根。綿綿若存，用之不勤。

The valley spirit never dies. It is known as the Mother of Creation. Its door opens to the root of Heaven and Earth. It lives on forever and works without effort.

Imagine the energy of creation. It is not visible like this, but we can sense it through its manifestations. Image from Shutterstock

Of the myriad of ways to understand this, here is a humble take on it.

The "valley spirit" is a literal translation, but figuratively, it is another name for Dao. However, the decision to keep it literal here serves a purpose, which I will be explained soon.  Those who are somewhat familiar with Dao De Jing understand that Dao is the creator of all phenomena, in other words, the Mother of Creation.

The word "door" in the following line suggests a place, and this place is in a valley, the door to source of creation. This hints at the same hidden place referenced in the Flower Sermon and verse about Mount Spirit.  In this verse, this undisclosed place, shrouded in mystery, is the source of creation.  This one place holds all the secrets of this universe.