Dao De Jing by Laozi, Chapter 16
Returning to the Root, Knowing the Eternal, Ten Thousand Things Arising and Returning to the Source, Community of Feeling, Freedom from Fear of Aging, 歸根
"By attaining the height of abstraction we gain fullness of rest.
All the ten thousand things arise, and I see them return.
Now they bloom in bloom but each one homeward returneth to its root.
Returning to the root means rest.
It signifies the return according to destiny.
Return according to destiny means the eternal.
Knowing the eternal means enlightenment.
Not knowing the eternal causes passions to rise; and that is evil.
Knowing the eternal renders comprehensive.
Breadth renders royal.
Royalty renders heavenly.
Heaven renders Reason-like.
Reason renders lasting.
Thus the decay of the body implies no danger."
- Translated by D. T. Suzuki and Paul Carus, 1913, Chapter 16
All the ten thousand things arise, and I see them return.
Now they bloom in bloom but each one homeward returneth to its root.
Returning to the root means rest.
It signifies the return according to destiny.
Return according to destiny means the eternal.
Knowing the eternal means enlightenment.
Not knowing the eternal causes passions to rise; and that is evil.
Knowing the eternal renders comprehensive.
Breadth renders royal.
Royalty renders heavenly.
Heaven renders Reason-like.
Reason renders lasting.
Thus the decay of the body implies no danger."
- Translated by D. T. Suzuki and Paul Carus, 1913, Chapter 16
"It is only by means of being
that non-being may be found.
When society changes
from its natural state of flux,
to that which seems like chaos,
the inner world of the superior man
remains uncluttered and at peace.
By remaining still, his self detatched,
he aids society in its return
to the way of nature and of peace.
The value of his insight may be clearly seen
when chaos ceases.
Being one with the Tao is to be at peace,
and to be in conflict with it,
leads to chaos and dysfunction.
When the consistency of the Tao is known,
the mind is receptive to its states of change.
It is by being at one with the Tao,
that the sage holds no prejudice
against his fellow man.
If accepted as a leader of men,
he is held in high esteem.
Throughout his life,
both being and non-being,
the Tao protects him."
- Translated by Stan Rosenthal, 1984, Chapter 16
that non-being may be found.
When society changes
from its natural state of flux,
to that which seems like chaos,
the inner world of the superior man
remains uncluttered and at peace.
By remaining still, his self detatched,
he aids society in its return
to the way of nature and of peace.
The value of his insight may be clearly seen
when chaos ceases.
Being one with the Tao is to be at peace,
and to be in conflict with it,
leads to chaos and dysfunction.
When the consistency of the Tao is known,
the mind is receptive to its states of change.
It is by being at one with the Tao,
that the sage holds no prejudice
against his fellow man.
If accepted as a leader of men,
he is held in high esteem.
Throughout his life,
both being and non-being,
the Tao protects him."
- Translated by Stan Rosenthal, 1984, Chapter 16
"Make emptiness in yourself complete and achieve the full calm!
Let everything around move by itself.
Let everyone bloom spiritually and advance to cognition of their true Essence.
Those who cognized their true Essence — achieve full calm.
Thus they attain the common Abode of All Who Attained.
One’s being in this Abode has to become constant.
He, who fulfilled this, is called Enlightened, Perfect, possessing the Higher Wisdom.
Those Who attained that Abode represent the United “We” which is the Highest Ruler.
That Abode is also called the Sky.
This is the Abode of the Eternal Tao.
Tao is non-corporeal.
It cannot be caught by anyone.
Thus, It is invincible."
- Translated by Mikhail Nikolenko, Chapter 16
Let everything around move by itself.
Let everyone bloom spiritually and advance to cognition of their true Essence.
Those who cognized their true Essence — achieve full calm.
Thus they attain the common Abode of All Who Attained.
One’s being in this Abode has to become constant.
He, who fulfilled this, is called Enlightened, Perfect, possessing the Higher Wisdom.
Those Who attained that Abode represent the United “We” which is the Highest Ruler.
That Abode is also called the Sky.
This is the Abode of the Eternal Tao.
Tao is non-corporeal.
It cannot be caught by anyone.
Thus, It is invincible."
- Translated by Mikhail Nikolenko, Chapter 16
"The state of vacancy should be brought to the utmost degree, and that of stillness guarded with unwearying vigor.
All things alike go through their processes of activity, and then we see them return to their original state.
Then things in the vegetable world have displayed their luxuriant growth, we see each of them return to its root.
This returning to their root is what we call the state of stillness;
And that stillness may be called a reporting that they have fulfilled their appointed end.
The report of that fulfillment is the regular, unchanging rule.
To know that unchanging rule is to be intelligent;
Not to know it leads to wild movements and evil issues.
The knowledge of that unchanging rule produces a grand capacity and forbearance,
And that capacity and forbearance lead to a community of feeling with all things.
From this community of feeling comes a kingliness of character;
And he who is king-like goes on to be heaven-like.
In that likeness to heaven he possesses the Dao.
Possessed of the Dao, he endures long;
And to the end of his bodily life, is exempt from all danger of decay."
- Translated by James Legge, 1891, Chapter 16
All things alike go through their processes of activity, and then we see them return to their original state.
Then things in the vegetable world have displayed their luxuriant growth, we see each of them return to its root.
This returning to their root is what we call the state of stillness;
And that stillness may be called a reporting that they have fulfilled their appointed end.
The report of that fulfillment is the regular, unchanging rule.
To know that unchanging rule is to be intelligent;
Not to know it leads to wild movements and evil issues.
The knowledge of that unchanging rule produces a grand capacity and forbearance,
And that capacity and forbearance lead to a community of feeling with all things.
From this community of feeling comes a kingliness of character;
And he who is king-like goes on to be heaven-like.
In that likeness to heaven he possesses the Dao.
Possessed of the Dao, he endures long;
And to the end of his bodily life, is exempt from all danger of decay."
- Translated by James Legge, 1891, Chapter 16
"[I adopt the following practice for self-improvement:]
To strive to be extremely humble and unassuming;
To retain Serenity single-mindedly;
[Through such effort, I shall be able to maintain a serene state of mind so that]
I can observe and judge [most efficiently] the simultaneous unfolding of activities of each and every creature and thing, as well as their recurrences.
Each and every innumerable individual living thing will flourish like weeds [every instant];
Each and every [living thing] will eventually return to its root;
The returning of an individual to his (its) root is called Serenity;
Serenity means to respond to the determining forces (Tao);
Responding to the determining forces (Tao) leads to perpetuation;
Individuals who know how to perpetuate are brilliant;
Individuals who do not know how to perpetuate are prone to rash activities, hence they are doomed.
A person who [truly] knows is comprehensive (tolerant);
His comprehensiveness will make him an impartial [person];
Impartiality is the essential quality of a [good and proper] king;
Kings [of good standing] came with the background of having recognized [the importance of being in harmony with] Heaven;
A person who recognizes [the significance of being in harmony with] Heaven is on the right path of Tao;
Being on the path of Tao, a person will perpetuate [his existence];
Throughout my life I have never had, and will never have, any doubt about this (the above described progressive stages of existence)."
- Translated by Org, Lee Sun Chen, Chapter 16
To strive to be extremely humble and unassuming;
To retain Serenity single-mindedly;
[Through such effort, I shall be able to maintain a serene state of mind so that]
I can observe and judge [most efficiently] the simultaneous unfolding of activities of each and every creature and thing, as well as their recurrences.
Each and every innumerable individual living thing will flourish like weeds [every instant];
Each and every [living thing] will eventually return to its root;
The returning of an individual to his (its) root is called Serenity;
Serenity means to respond to the determining forces (Tao);
Responding to the determining forces (Tao) leads to perpetuation;
Individuals who know how to perpetuate are brilliant;
Individuals who do not know how to perpetuate are prone to rash activities, hence they are doomed.
A person who [truly] knows is comprehensive (tolerant);
His comprehensiveness will make him an impartial [person];
Impartiality is the essential quality of a [good and proper] king;
Kings [of good standing] came with the background of having recognized [the importance of being in harmony with] Heaven;
A person who recognizes [the significance of being in harmony with] Heaven is on the right path of Tao;
Being on the path of Tao, a person will perpetuate [his existence];
Throughout my life I have never had, and will never have, any doubt about this (the above described progressive stages of existence)."
- Translated by Org, Lee Sun Chen, Chapter 16
"Seek to attain to absolute emptiness;
Maintain a state of perfect stillness.
See how all things come into being,
And see how they return!
They come to flower and fullness
And then go back to the roots whence they came.
To go home to the root is to achieve perfect stillness.
Thus, in attaining stillness, do they fulfil their destiny;
And thus, in turning back, they join the Never-changing.
To be aware of the Never-changing is to be enlightened.
Not to know the Never-changing is to stumble blindly into miseries.
He who knows the Never-changing embraces all;
Embracing all, shall he not accept all impartially?
To be impartial is an attribute of kingship,
And kingship is of Heaven.
He who is of Heaven can attain to the Tao.
He who is of the Tao endures forever,
And though his body decay, he never dies."
- Translated by Herman Ould, 1946, Chapter 16
Maintain a state of perfect stillness.
See how all things come into being,
And see how they return!
They come to flower and fullness
And then go back to the roots whence they came.
To go home to the root is to achieve perfect stillness.
Thus, in attaining stillness, do they fulfil their destiny;
And thus, in turning back, they join the Never-changing.
To be aware of the Never-changing is to be enlightened.
Not to know the Never-changing is to stumble blindly into miseries.
He who knows the Never-changing embraces all;
Embracing all, shall he not accept all impartially?
To be impartial is an attribute of kingship,
And kingship is of Heaven.
He who is of Heaven can attain to the Tao.
He who is of the Tao endures forever,
And though his body decay, he never dies."
- Translated by Herman Ould, 1946, Chapter 16
"When one is extremely stilled and free of vain desires,
All things will work together
So that one can watch the changes,
For all things return to their roots:
Their original states without poles.
Returning is completing the cycle of life's work.
The cycling of life is absolute,
Awareness of that absoluteness is wisdom.
Without that wisdom, one may do things willfully
And may hence meet with an early death.
With the wisdom, one can be tolerant.
Being tolerant, one can be just to everything.
Being just, one can be a wise leader,
Being a wise leader, one can fulfill the greatest cause.
Being able to fulfill, one is serving the Way.
By serving the Way, the cause can last,
And will not vanish even after one's death."
- Translated by Qixuan, Liu Chapter 16
All things will work together
So that one can watch the changes,
For all things return to their roots:
Their original states without poles.
Returning is completing the cycle of life's work.
The cycling of life is absolute,
Awareness of that absoluteness is wisdom.
Without that wisdom, one may do things willfully
And may hence meet with an early death.
With the wisdom, one can be tolerant.
Being tolerant, one can be just to everything.
Being just, one can be a wise leader,
Being a wise leader, one can fulfill the greatest cause.
Being able to fulfill, one is serving the Way.
By serving the Way, the cause can last,
And will not vanish even after one's death."
- Translated by Qixuan, Liu Chapter 16
"Attain the climax of emptiness, preserve the utmost quiet:
as myriad things act in concert, I thereby observe the return.
Things flourish, then each returns to its root.
Returning to the root is called stillness;
stillness is called return to Life, return to Life is called the constant;
knowing the constant is called enlightenment.
Acts at random, in ignorance of the constant, bode ill.
Knowing the constant gives perspective; this perspective is impartial.
Impartiality is the highest nobility; the highest nobility is divine, and the divine is the Way.
This Way is everlasting, not endangered by physical death."
- Translated by Thomas Cleary, 1991, Chapter 16
as myriad things act in concert, I thereby observe the return.
Things flourish, then each returns to its root.
Returning to the root is called stillness;
stillness is called return to Life, return to Life is called the constant;
knowing the constant is called enlightenment.
Acts at random, in ignorance of the constant, bode ill.
Knowing the constant gives perspective; this perspective is impartial.
Impartiality is the highest nobility; the highest nobility is divine, and the divine is the Way.
This Way is everlasting, not endangered by physical death."
- Translated by Thomas Cleary, 1991, Chapter 16
