The ''Tao Te Ching'', often called simply ''Laozi'' after its reputed author, describes the ''Dao'' (or ''Tao'') as the source and ideal of all existence: it is unseen, but not transcendent, immensely powerful yet supremely humble, being the root of all things. People have desires and free will (and thus are able to alter their own nature). Many act "unnaturally", upsetting the natural balance of the Tao. The ''Tao Te Ching'' intends to lead students to a "return" to their natural state, in harmony with Tao.<!-- ref supports whole of paragraph to this point --><ref>{{Harvtxt|Van Norden|Ivanhoe|2005|p=162}}</ref> Language and [[conventional wisdom]] are critically assessed. Taoism views them as inherently biased and artificial, widely using paradoxes to sharpen the point.<ref name="Kohn-22">{{Harvtxt|Kohn|2000|p=22}}</ref> | The ''Tao Te Ching'', often called simply ''Laozi'' after its reputed author, describes the ''Dao'' (or ''Tao'') as the source and ideal of all existence: it is unseen, but not transcendent, immensely powerful yet supremely humble, being the root of all things. People have desires and free will (and thus are able to alter their own nature). Many act "unnaturally", upsetting the natural balance of the Tao. The ''Tao Te Ching'' intends to lead students to a "return" to their natural state, in harmony with Tao.<!-- ref supports whole of paragraph to this point --><ref>{{Harvtxt|Van Norden|Ivanhoe|2005|p=162}}</ref> Language and [[conventional wisdom]] are critically assessed. Taoism views them as inherently biased and artificial, widely using paradoxes to sharpen the point.<ref name="Kohn-22">{{Harvtxt|Kohn|2000|p=22}}</ref> |