And reverts again to the realm of nothingness. That is why it is called the Form of the Formless, The Image of Nothingness.
That is why it is called the Elusive: Meet it and you do not see its face; Follow it and you do not see its back.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 十五章
古之善为道者，微妙玄通，深不可识。夫唯不可识，故强为之容：豫兮，若冬涉川；犹兮，若畏四邻；俨兮，其若客；涣兮，其若凌释；敦兮
，其若朴；旷兮，其若谷；混兮，其若浊。孰能浊以止静之徐清。孰能安以久动之徐生。保此道者，不欲盈。夫唯不盈，故能蔽而新成。
The wise ones of old had subtle wisdom and depth of understanding, So profound that they could not be understood. And because they could not be understood, Perforce must they be so described: Cautious, like crossing a wintry stream, Irresolute, like one fearing danger all around, Grave, like one acting as guest,
Self-effacing, like ice beginning to melt, Genuine, like a piece of undressed wood, Open-minded, like a valley,
And mixing freely, like murky water. Who can find repose in a muddy world？ By lying still, it becomes clear. Who can maintain his calm for long？ By activity, it comes back to life. He who embraces this Tao
Guards against being over-full.
Because he guards against being over-full, He is beyond wearing out and renewal.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 十六章
致虚极，守静笃。万物并作，吾以观复。夫物芸芸，各复归其根。归根曰静，静曰复命。复命曰常，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，殁身不殆。 Attain the utmost in Passivity, Hold firm to the basis of Quietude.
The myriad things take shape and rise to activity, But I watch them fall back to their repose. Like vegetation that luxuriantly grows
But returns to the root (soil) from which it springs. To return to the root is Repose;
It is called going back to one's Destiny.
Going back to one's Destiny is to find the Eternal Law. To know the Eternal Law is Enlightenment. And not to know the Eternal Law Is to court disaster.
He who knows the Eternal Law is tolerant; Being tolerant, he is impartial; Being impartial, he is kingly;
Being kingly, he is in accord with Nature;
Being in accord with Nature, he is in accord with Tao; Being in accord with Tao, he is eternal, And his whole life is preserved from harm.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 十七章
太上，不知有之；其次，亲而誉之；其次，畏之；其次，侮之。信不足焉，有不信焉。悠兮，其贵言。功成事遂，百姓皆谓：「我自然」。 Of the best rulers
The people (only) know that they exist; The next best the love and praise; The next they fear; And the next they revile.
When they do not command the people's faith, Some will lose faith in them, And then they resort to oaths!
But (of the best) when their task is accomplished, their work done,
The people all remark, \
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 十八章
大道废，有仁义；智慧出，有大伪；六亲不和，有孝慈；国家昏乱，有忠臣。 On the decline of the great Tao,
The doctrine of \When knowledge and cleverness appeared, Great hypocrisy followed in its wake.
When the six relationships no longer lived at peace, There was (praise of) \ When a country fell into chaos and misrule, There was (praise of) \
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 十九章
绝圣弃智，民利百倍；绝仁弃义，民复孝慈；绝巧弃利，盗贼无有。此三者以为文，不足。故令有所属：见素抱朴，少思寡欲，绝学无忧。 Banish wisdom, discard knowledge,
And the people shall profit a hundredfold; Banish \
And the people shall recover love of their kin; Banish cunning, discard \
And the thieves and brigands shall disappear.
As these three touch the externals and are inadequate, The people have need of what they can depend upon: Reveal thy simple self, Embrace thy original nature, Check thy selfishness, Curtail thy desires.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 二十章
唯之与阿，相去几何美之与恶，相去若何人之所畏，不可不畏。荒兮，其未央哉！众人熙熙，如享太牢，如春登台。我独泊兮，其未兆；
沌沌兮，如婴儿之未孩；儡儡兮，若无所归。众人皆有馀，而我独若遗。我愚人之心也哉，沌沌兮！俗人昭昭，我独昏昏。俗人察察，我独闷
闷。淡兮，其若海，望兮，若无止。众人皆有以，而我独顽似鄙。我独异于人，而贵食母。
Banish learning, and vexations end. Between \How much difference is there？
Between \How much difference is there\That which men fear Is indeed to be feared;
But, alas, distant yet is the dawn (of awakening)! The people of the world are merry-making, As if partaking of the sacrificial feasts, As if mounting the terrace in spring; I alone am mild, like one unemployed, Like a new-born babe that cannot yet smile, Unattached, like one without a home.
The people of the world have enough and to spare, But I am like one left out, My heart must be that of a fool, Being muddled, nebulous!
The vulgar are knowing, luminous; I alone am dull, confused.
The vulgar are clever, self-assured; I alone, depressed. Patient as the sea, Adrift, seemingly aimless.
The people of the world all have a purpose; I alone appear stubborn and uncouth. I alone differ from the other people, And value drawing sustenance from the Mother.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 二十一章
道德经林语堂
