Tao Te Ching Chapter 16
paulpengThe Original Chinese Text
致虚极，守静笃。万物并作，吾以观复。夫物芸芸，各复归其根。归根曰静，是谓复命。复命曰常，知常曰明。不知常，妄作凶。知常容，容乃公，公乃王，王乃天，天乃道，道乃久，没身不殆。
The (state of) vacancy should be brought to the utmost degree, and that of stillness guarded with unwearying vigour.All things alike go through their processes of activity,and (then) we see them return (to their original state).When 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 fulfilment isthe regular, unchanging rule. To know that unchanging ruleis to be intelligent; not to know it leads to wild movementsand evil issues. The knowledge of that unchanging ruleproduces 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 aking liness of character; and he who is king-like goes on to beheaven-like. In that likeness to heaven he possesses the Dao.Possessed of the Dao, he endures long; and to the end of hisbodily life, is exempt from all danger of decay.
【译文】使心境到达虚寂的顶点，保持清静专注。万物一并蓬勃生长，我能够仔细查看其往复循环的道理。万物多而杂乱，各不相同却都会不断地重回它们的本根。返回到它们的本根叫做清静，清静就是复归于自然的使命。复归于自然的使命叫做永恒存在的道，了解了永恒存在的道叫做明达觉悟，不了解永恒存在的道，就会轻妄举止，这样往往会有灾凶。了解永恒存在的道的人能够包容一切，包容一切就会公平无私，公平无私就能使人心归附向往，人心归附向往才能到达至高无上的境地，到达至高无上的境地才能顺应永恒存在的自然之道，顺应自然的道才能长久，这样才会终身不遭到危险。
Make the state of mind reach the peak of emptiness and tranquility, and maintain a state of clarity and concentration. All things thrive together, and I can carefully observe the principle of their cyclical recurrence. All things are numerous and chaotic, each different, yet they all constantly return to their root. Returning to their root is called tranquility, and tranquility is the mission of reverting to nature. Reverting to the mission of nature is called the eternal Tao. Understanding the eternal Tao is called enlightenment. Not understanding the eternal Tao leads to rash actions, which often bring misfortunes. Those who understand the eternal Tao can embrace all things. Being able to embrace all things means being fair and impartial. Being fair and impartial can win the hearts of people, and winning the hearts of people can lead to reaching the supreme realm. Reaching the supreme realm means conforming to the eternal Tao of nature, and conforming to the Tao of nature can lead to longevity. In this way, one will not encounter danger throughout one's life.
