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Reach the utmost emptiness, |
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maintain stillness steadfastly. |
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All things arise together; |
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I observe their return. |
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Things are teeming— |
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each returns to its root. |
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Returning to the root is called stillness; |
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this is called returning to the mandate. |
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Returning to the mandate is called constancy; |
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knowing constancy is called clarity. |
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Not knowing constancy, |
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rash action brings disaster. |
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Knowing constancy is openness; |
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openness then becomes impartiality; |
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impartiality then becomes sovereignty; |
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sovereignty then becomes Heaven; |
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Heaven then becomes the Way; |
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the Way then is enduring— |
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vanishing the body, no peril. |