Chapter 15
IndexAttain utmost emptiness, maintain profound stillness.
The myriad things arise together; I observe their return.
Ah, how the myriad things flourish, each returning to its root.
Returning to the root is called stillness; this is known as recovering life's mandate.
Recovering life's mandate is called constancy; knowing constancy is called enlightenment.
Not knowing constancy leads to reckless action and misfortune.
Knowing constancy leads to acceptance; acceptance leads to impartiality; impartiality leads to sovereignty; sovereignty aligns with heaven; heaven aligns with the Dao; the Dao is eternal. Thus, even when the body perishes, there is no danger.