The word Tao is a term full of significance. It can mean to speak, to guide, a fundamental principle, or a system of logic. It also means "way," both in the sense of a path and in the sense of a method. In the most comprehensive sense, Tao refers to the way things are, the source of natural order, and the methods of harmonizing with the vital spirit of the universe.

This text, regarded as an immortal classic inner work, is written in such a way that it responds to the reader to the extent that the reader responds to the text. In this sense, one could say that the text and the reader form a whole that interacts mutually. Zhuangzi indicates that the most effective way to experience human experience is to merge or "fit" into every given situation, allowing ourselves to respond effortlessly and spontaneously, thus experiencing the Tao.