TAO TE CHING English Version by Stan Atamanchuk. Lao-tzu's the ancient Chinese Zen Master left only his book: TAO TE CHING, Chinese, meaning "the way" or Book of the Way. TAO is defined as the flow of Nature. When you see clouds float in the sky you are seeing the way of the TAO ...ever changing, ever flowing. At a deep level we are a field of waves. The TAO, the basic, eternal principle of the universe that transcends reality and is the source of being, non-being, and change. The source and principle of the cosmic order; the constant flow of life force in unceasing change