Tao Te Ching · Chapter
XVI explained
This chapter emphasizes the importance of achieving utmost vacancy and stillness, observing how all things return to their root.
What happens
This chapter emphasizes the importance of achieving utmost vacancy and stillness, observing how all things return to their root. This return to stillness is the fulfillment of their destiny and the unchanging rule. Knowing this rule brings intelligence, forbearance, community, kingliness, heaven-likeness, and ultimately possession of the Tao, which grants endurance and freedom from decay.
Themes in this chapter
Return to Origins and Stillness
The chapter describes all things returning to their root, which is stillness and the fulfillment of their appointed end.
The Tao as the Ultimate Principle
Possession of the Tao is presented as the highest state, leading to endurance and exemption from decay.
Key passages
“The (state of) vacancy should be brought to the utmost degree, and that of stillness guarded with unwearying vigour.”
One should cultivate emptiness to the highest level and maintain stillness with tireless effort.
Opening instruction on the practice of vacancy and stillness.
“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.”
Returning to the root is stillness, which signifies the completion of one's purpose.
Explains the concept of returning to the root as stillness and fulfillment.
“To know that unchanging rule is to be intelligent; not to know it leads to wild movements and evil issues.”
Understanding this constant principle brings wisdom; ignorance of it results in chaos and harm.
Contrasts the outcomes of knowing versus not knowing the unchanging rule.