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 insights:

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

• It is the home of our spirit and the center of our being. It is where the wonders of the awakening can be found.

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

• It is the foundation of the deep methods to practice.

  
  

You may find yourself wondering: “Is there more to this mysterious hidden place?” The answer, as we shall see, is a resounding yes.

Let us now turn to a Daoist verse from Chapter 6 of the Dao De Jing. This verse will not only deepen but also broaden our understanding of this hidden source, 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 eternal valley spirit is the Mother of Creation.

Through its gate flows the origin of heaven and earth—endless and unseen.

Its workings are boundless and 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 many ways to understand this, here is a humble reflection:

The term “valley spirit” is a literal translation, but figuratively, it is another name for Tao. The choice to keep the translation literal here is intentional—and its purpose will soon be explained.

Let us begin with the word valley. Valleys are places where people naturally gravitate toward settling and building their homes, drawn by fertile land and nearby water sources. In other words, a valley is a place that can support and sustain life. Now, within this valley—and there is such a valley within the human body—there is a spirit. Together, the phrase suggests a spirit that gives life and nourishes it from within.

Those who are somewhat familiar with the Dao De Jing understand that Tao is the source of all things—in other words, the Mother of Creation. Just as Tao gives birth to all life, it also places within each of us a spirit that reflects Her own—a quiet, enduring presence that gives life, nurtures growth, and returns us to the source when the time is right.

The word “door” in the next line suggests a location, and that place is in a valley—a gateway to the source of creation. This hints at the same hidden place referenced in the Flower Sermon and the verse about Mount Spirit. Here, this secret and veiled place is revealed as the origin of all things—a single, mysterious point that holds the deep truths of the universe.

What could this mean for us? Our connection to nature is already written into our very being. In the rush of daily life, with so many things to do and places to be, something shifts the moment we step into nature. It doesn’t even have to be a mountain hike—it could simply be a walk through a small garden. Our nervous system seems to calm almost instantly. That is the life-giving and life-nourishing spirit renewing us. And if we have built a deep enough connection to the spirit within, even turning our gaze inward is enough to bring renewal.