slowly and gently make it pure and clearB? Who can take what is tranquil and use continual movement to slowly and gently bring it to life? [for a long time] He who maintains this Way does not desire to be full. Now : only because he is not full, Thus2 he can be hidden and unfinished 2. [not finish] Notes The last two lines are not present in GUO A : in this sentence and the next, “muddy water” appears to be a metaphor for one’s state of mind, thus referring to churned-up thoughts and feelings B : apparently referring to a purity and clarity of the heart/mind Cross-references the ancients/elders : #14, #22, #38, #39, #62, #65, #68 virtue of the ancients : #65 scholar : #41, #68 mystery : #1, #6, #10, #27, #51, #56, #62, #65 fear/afraid : #17, #20, #72, #74 uncarved block : #19, #28, #32, #37, #57 valley : #6, #28, #32, #39, #41, #66 stillness : #16, #26, #37, #45, #57, #61 he who “possesses Dao” : #23, #24, #31, #65, #77 hidden : #41 Chapter Sixteen 致 虛 極 • 守 靜 篤 • 萬 物 並 作 吾 以 觀 [其] 復 • (•)夫 物 芸 芸 各 復 歸 其 根 • 歸 根 曰 靜 [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 Attain the utmost emptiness. Maintain a profound stillness. The ten thousand creatures arise in unison, And thus I observe their return. Now : all the myriad creatures return to their source. Returning to the source speaks of stillness. Stillness is called returning to the natural order. Returning to the natural order speaks of the ever-constant. Knowing the ever-constant speaks of insight. Not knowing the ever-constant is foolish and creates misfortune. Knowing the ever-constant leads to tolerance. Being tolerant leads to being just and unbiased. Being just and unbiased leads to being kingly. Being kingly leads to heaven. Heaven leads to Dao. Dao leads to what endures. When the self disappears, there can be no danger. Attain the utmost emptiness. Maintain a profound stillness. [sincere,devoted,true] The ten thousand creatures arise in unison, [together,simultaneously] And thus I observe their return. Now : all the myriad creatures return2 to their source. [multitudinous2] Returning to the source speaks of stillness. Stillness is called returning to the natural order. [order,destiny,fate]