Line by Line - Verse 14, Line 8

Ceaseless in its action, it yet cannot be named,
~ James Legge translation, from The Sacred Books of the East, 1891 ~

An unbroken thread beyond description.
~ Gia-fu Feng and Jane English translation, published by Vintage Books, 1989 ~

Continuing endlessly, cannot be named
~ Derek Lin translation, from Tao Te Ching: Annotated & Explained, published by SkyLight Paths, 2006 ~

(No corresponding line)
~ Ron Hogan rendition, from Beatrice.com, 2004 ~

There is something that underlies existence, life. It is a force, essence, consciousness or some unidentifiable element. It is a constituent part of E-V-E-R-Y-T-H-I-N-G.

How could it be quantified, qualified, described or defined? While our ability to understand and comprehend the world we live in is based on the ability to distinguish this from that, how does one comprehend that which, by it's internal nature, cannot be distinguishable? How would it be possible to define something that cannot be defined apart from anything else?

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