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Returning to the root

"The (state of) vacancy should be brought to the utmost degree, and that of stillness guarded with unwearying vigour. All things alike go through their processes of activity, and (then) we see them return (to their original state). When things (in the vegetable world) have displayed their luxuriant growth, we see each of them return to its root. This returning to their root is what we call the state of stillness; and that stillness may be called a reporting that they have fulfilled their appointed end. The report of that fulfilment is the regular, unchanging rule. To know that unchanging rule is to be intelligent; not to know it leads to wild movements and evil issues. The knowledge of that unchanging rule produces a (grand) capacity and forbearance, and that capacity and forbearance lead to a community (of feeling with all things). From this community of feeling comes a kingliness of character; and he who is king-like goes on to be heaven-like. In that likeness to heaven he possesses the Tao. Possessed of the Tao, he endures long; and to the end of his bodily life, is exempt from all danger of decay."

Author

Lao Tzu

All Translations

Chinese

"致虚極, 守靖篤。 萬物並作, 吾以觀其復。 凡物, 各歸其根。 歸根曰靖, 靖曰復命。 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。"

Czech

"Dospěti vrcholu prázdnoty jest obdržeti klidu zabezpečení. Deset tisíc bytostí je rovnoměrně uděláno. Tím znamenáme jejich vracení se. Jsou-li bytosti v plném květu, vrací se každá z nich k svému kořeni. Ke kořeni se vrátii, zove se spočinouti; spočinouti znamená vrátiti určení (=život), vrátiti určení, zove se býti věčným, znáti věčné, zove se býti osvíceným, neznati věčné, působíc nedbání povinností, činí nešťastným. Kdo dovede býti věčný, obsahuje (vše); (vše) obsahující, tedy všeobecný, všeobecný, tedy král, král, tedy z nebe, z nebe, tedy z Taa, z Taa, tedy trvalý. Při odumírajícím těle jest mimo nebezpečí."

German

"Wer der Entäußerung Gipfel erreicht hat, bewahrt unerschütterliche Ruhe. Alle Wesen miteinander treten hervor, und ich sehe sie wieder zurückgehen. Wenn die Wesen sich entwickelt haben, kehrt jedes zurück in seinen Ursprung. Zurückgekehrt in den Ursprung, heißt: Ruhe. Ruhe heißt: Zurückkehren zur Bestimmu Zurückkehren zur Bestimmung, heißt: Ewig-sein. Das Ewige erkennen, heißt: Erleuchtet-sein. Das Ewige nicht erkennen, macht verderbt und unglücklich. Wer das Ewige erkennt, ist umfassend - umfassend, daher gerecht, - gerecht, daher kömglich, - königlich, daher himmlisch, - himmlisch, daher in Tao, - in Tao, daher fortdauernd. Er büßt den Körper ein ohne Gefahr."

English

"The (state of) vacancy should be brought to the utmost degree, and that of stillness guarded with unwearying vigour. All things alike go through their processes of activity, and (then) we see them return (to their original state). When things (in the vegetable world) have displayed their luxuriant growth, we see each of them return to its root. This returning to their root is what we call the state of stillness; and that stillness may be called a reporting that they have fulfilled their appointed end. The report of that fulfilment is the regular, unchanging rule. To know that unchanging rule is to be intelligent; not to know it leads to wild movements and evil issues. The knowledge of that unchanging rule produces a (grand) capacity and forbearance, and that capacity and forbearance lead to a community (of feeling with all things). From this community of feeling comes a kingliness of character; and he who is king-like goes on to be heaven-like. In that likeness to heaven he possesses the Tao. Possessed of the Tao, he endures long; and to the end of his bodily life, is exempt from all danger of decay."

Spanish

"Alcanzar el vacío es la norma suprema, conservar la quietud es el máximo principio; del devenir abigarrado de los diez mil seres, contempla su retorno. Innumerable es la variedad de los seres, mas todos retornan a su origen. Es la quietud. La quietud, es el retornar a la propia determinación. Retornar a la propia determinación, es lo permanente; conocer lo permanente, es la iluminación; quien no conoce lo permanente, se procura en su ceguera la desgracia. Quien conoce lo permanente, todo lo abarca; quien todo lo abarca, es desinteresado; a quien es desinteresado, el mundo le obedece; aquel a quien el mundo obedece, se identifica con el cielo; quien se identifica con el cielo, se hace uno con el dao; quien se hace uno con el dao, vive largo tiempo. Hasta el final de sus días libre permanecerá de todopeligro."

French

"Ayant atteint le vide parfait, je me laisse porter par l'aile puissante du silence. Je contemple l'agitation des hommes. Retourner à son origine... Retourner à son origine, c'est retrouver le repos. Le repos, c'est le retour dans sa demeure véritable. C'est renouer avec son destin. Ce retour est la loi éternelle. Connaître la loi éternelle, c'est être éclairé. L'ignorer, c'est la confusion et, par là, c'est le malheur. celui qui connaît la loi possède le savoir. Il se montre, alors, impartial. Impartial, il agit royalement. Royal, il atteint le divin. Le divin atteint, il est uni au Tao et se trouve désormais au-delà de tout péril. Rien ne peut le surprendre. Rien ne peut l'émouvoir. Rien ne peut le toucher. Pas même la mort."

Hungarian

"Elérek a teljes ürességig, megőrzöm a rendíthetetlen nyugalmat, és minden dolog maga növekedik, én meg csak szemlélem visszatérésüket [körforgásukat]. Íme, minden dolog felvirágzik, s minden visszatér a gyökeréhez [kezdetéhez]. A gyökérhez való visszatérést nevezik nyugalomnak, erről pedig azt mondják: meghódolás a sors előtt (fu ming). A meghódolás a sors előtt: állandóság. Aki megérti az állandóságot, az felvilágosult (ming). Aki az állandóságot nem érti, az vakon megy a szerencsétlenségbe. Ismerni az állandóságot: mindent magába fogadni (zsung). Mindent magába fogadni: igazságosság (kung). Az igazságosság: királyi tisztség (vang). A királyi tisztség: megfelelés az égnek (tien). Az ég pedig: megfelelés a tao-nak. Végül a tao: örök. Ha (teste) el is vész, nem pusztul el ő maga."

Italian

"colui che raggiunge il massimo del vuoto permane fermamente nella quiete mentre le creature tutte insieme agiscono egli contempla il loro ritorno infatti tutte le cose fioriscono ma ognuna ritorna alla propria radice ritornare alla propria radice significa quiete quiete significa portare a compimento il proprio destino portare a compimento il proprio destino è una legge costante chi conosce la legge costante è illuminato chi non la conosce provoca insensatamente la propria disgrazia chi conosce questa legge è tollerante essendo tollerante è imparziale essendo imparziale è giusto essendo giusto è come il cielo essendo come il cielo è simile alla via colui che è simile alla via dura a lungo e per tutta la vita non corre pericolo"

Romanian

"Fiind fără de dorințe, se atinge liniștea. Pentru tot ce capată existență, Este un timp de absorbție în non-existență. După o viguroasă creștere, Orice dispare, întorcându-se astfel la sursă. Întorcerea la origini este liniștea, Repaosul este condiția naturală. Întoarcerea la origini este eternitatea, Cel ce știe aceasta este iluminat. Cel ce nu știe are parte de suferință. Cunoscând eternitatea se contopește cu totul. Contopindu-se cu totul, expandează. Prin expandare este prezent peste tot. Fiind omniprezent atinge o stare înaltă. Prin starea înaltă atinge Tao (Este pe Cărare). Cine atinge Tao intră în eternitate. Deși corpul îmbătrânește, spiritu-i nu moare niciodată."

Russian

"Нужно сделать [свое сердце] предельно беспристрастным, твердо сохранять покой, и тогда все вещи будут изменяться сами собой, а нам останется лишь созерцать их возвращение.[В мире] - большое разнообразие вещей, но [все они] возвращаются к своему началу. Возвращение к началу называется покоем, а покой называется возвращением к сущности. Возвращение к сущности называется постоянством. Знание постоянства называется [достижением] ясности, а незнание постоянства приводит к беспорядку и [в результате] к злу. Знающий постоянство становится совершенным; тот, кто достиг совершенства, становится справедливым; тот, кто обрел справедливость, становится государем. Тот, кто становится государем, следует небу. Тот, кто следует небу, следует дао. Тот, кто следует дао, вечен, и до конца жизни такой государь не будет подвергаться опасности."

Vietnamese

"Thử tách khỏi vòng đời luân chuyển, Để lặng thinh ngắm chuyện trần hoàn. Muôn loài sinh hóa đa đoan, Rồi ra cũng phải lai hoàn bản nguyên. Hoàn bản nguyên, an nhiên phục mệnh. Phục mệnh rồi trường vĩnh vô cùng. Biết trường tồn mới là thông, Trường tôn không biết, ra lòng tác yêu. Biết trường tồn muôn điều thư thái, Lòng ung dung hưởng khoái công hầu. Công hầu, vương tước, xa đâu, Vượt thang thần thánh, lên bầu trời cao. Lên trời thẳm hòa vào Đạo cả, Cùng đất trời, muôn thủa trường sinh. Xác tan, chẳng hại chi mình."

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