《常》

Eternal Constant

《道德經，第十六章》

致虛極，守靜篤。萬物並作，吾以觀復。

夫物芸芸，各復歸其根。

歸根曰靜，是謂復命。

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。

Dao De Jing Chapter Sixteen — C. Ganson

道德經第十六章

Achieve the highest goal by being passive;

hold close to a state of perfect serenity.

Everything comes into existence

but observe, returns to its source.

Thus, vegetation flourishes and grows,

but returns to the soil whence it came.

Returning to the source is serenity;

it is to realize one's destiny.

To realize one's destiny

is to know the Eternal Constant.

To know the Eternal Constant

is to be enlightened.

To be ignorant of this

is blindness that begets evil.

Whoever knows the Eternal Constant

is open-minded. Being open-minded

is to be impartial. Being impartial

is to be above nations and laws.

Being above nations and laws

is to be in accord with nature.

Being in accord with nature

is to be in accord with Tao.

Being in accord with Tao

is to be eternal.

Although his body may die and decay,

he shall live forever.

Dao De Jing, Chapter Sixteen — James Legge

（回歸根源, Returning to the root）

The (state of [ZPE]) 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 Dao. Possessed of the Dao, he endures long; and to the end of his bodily life, is exempt from all danger of decay.