This is episode 1 of a new series I am introducing where I comment on the book Dao De Jing by Lao Zi. The present entry cover Chapter 1 of the book and is concerned with the metaphysics of Being, nothingness, absence and presence, cosmic oneness, and related themes. The previous video on this topic, titled "Yin-Yang, Dao, and 'dragons'": https://protesilaos.com/books/2022-12-09-yin-yang-dao-dragons/. * * * Find all my publications (not just philosophy) on my website: https://protesilaos.com/.