Dao De Jing复
The Silk Manuscript Version Chapter 16
帛本 第十六章
至虛,極也;守情(静),表也。
萬物旁作,吾以觀其復也。
天物雲雲,各復歸於其根,曰静。
静,是胃復命。復命,常也;
知常,明也;不知常,妄妄作凶;
知常容,容乃公,公乃王,王乃天,天乃道,
道乃久,沕身不怠。
Pursue in your spiritual world to the extreme. Let your heart be at peace.
All creatures living out there. I watch their life cycles.
Each separate being in the universe, returns to its source.
Returning to the source is serenity/calmness.
If you don’t realize your source/gift/mission, you tumble in confusion and sorrow.
When you realize the source, you naturally become wise/enlightened, tolerant, equal, dignified as a king, broad as celestial, forever as Dao. Even when your body is immersed in the water (death), your spirit won’t die.
Video Lecture
Additional Notes
Chapter 16 is about Wu-Wei in action.
What is Wu (无)? It is your talent, nature, mission.
What is Wu-Wei (无为)? It is the inherent mind, the natural mind. The essential part that is the core of yourself.
Chapter 16 relates to the Yi Jing hexagram 24, ䷗, 复 (fù), which means "returning."
Questions:
- Do you believe in fate?
- Have you realized your source, gift, or mission?
- What is inaction related to this chapter?