“Those who wish to embody the Tao should embrace all things.

“To embrace all things means first that one holds no anger or resistance toward any idea or thing, living or dead, formed or formless. Acceptance is the very essence of the Tao.

“To embrace all things means also that one rids oneself of any concept of separation: male and female, self and other, life and death. Division is contrary to the nature of the Tao.

“Foregoing antagonism and separation, one enters into the harmonious oneness of all things.” – Lao Tzu

(Lao Tzu, Hua Hu Ching. The Unknown Teachings of Lao Tzu. trans. Brian Walker. San Francisco: Harper, 1992, 5.)