Daodejing - Chapter Sixteen

 

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道德經  - 第十六章

致虛極，守靜篤。

萬物並作，吾以觀復。

夫物芸芸，各復歸其根。

歸根曰靜，是謂復命。

復命曰常，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，沒身不殆。

Daodejing - Chapter Sixteen

Empty your mind of all thoughts, let your heart be at peace.

Watch the turmoil of beings, but contemplate their return.

Each separate being in the universe, returns to the common source.

Returning to the source is serenity.

If you don't realize the source, you stumble in confusion and sorrow.

When you realize where you come from, you naturally become tolerant, disinterested, amused —  kindhearted as a grandmother, dignified as a king.

Immersed in the wonder of the Dao; you can deal with whatever life brings you.

And when death comes, you are ready.

References

1. The above translation is based on the translation by poet, translator, scholar and anthologist, Stephen Mitchell.  His reading of the work can be found on the following YouTube video: Tao Te Ching, The Book Of The Way by Lao Tzu: https://youtu.be/t109UFLSQhk?t=1555
2. This chapter on the above video starts at 25:50 and ends at 27.20.
3. You can find the complete 81 chapters of Daodejing in Chinese and English (James Legge version) in the ctext.org website: https://ctext.org/dao-de-jing