
致虚极,
|
Be completely empty, |
守静笃,
|
Hold to perfect serenity. |
万物并作,
|
The ten thousand things arise, |
吾以观复。
|
I watch their return. |
夫物芸芸,
|
All things blossom, |
各复归其根。
|
And each returns to its root. |
归根曰静,
|
Returning to the root is tranquility, |
静曰复命。
|
Tranquility is returning to destiny. |
复命曰常,
|
Returning to destiny is the constant. |
知常曰明。
|
Knowing the constant is clarity. |
不知常,
|
Ignorance of the constant, |
妄作凶。
|
Leads to recklessness and misfortune. |
知常容,
|
Knowing the constant, the mind is open, |
容乃公。
|
An open mind is generous. |
公乃王,
|
Generosity leads to nobility. |
王乃天,
|
Nobility leads to divinity. |
天乃道,
|
Divinity leads to the Dao. |
道乃久,
|
The Dao is eternal, |
没身不殆。
|
Though the body dies, it is never in danger. |