道十六 - Tao Chapter 16

至虚极也 守情表也

万物旁作 吾以观其复也

天物云云 各复归于其根 曰情

情 是胃复命

复命 常也

知常 明也

不知常 妄妄作凶

知常容 容乃公 公乃王 王乃天 天乃道 道乃久

没身不殆

来到房屋中栋梁的位置（正中至高的地方）；控制住自己的情感不表露于外。万物蓬勃生长，我就可以观察其中的生生不息、循环往复的表象。 天上云气舒卷，化作雨滴落下，渗入地表，又化作泉水喷溅而出，积水成流孕育万物。这就是心理上发于自然的意念。而这个意念就是生命循环往复、生生不息的原因。 生生不息、循环往复是长久不变的道理；知道这是基本规律，看待事物就很清晰，一目了然；如果不认可或者不了解这个基本规律，就会临时起意，胡乱下判断；做事轻举妄动是凶险的。 知道事物循环往复的发展规律，就不会为一时的低谷而影响心境，就可以更加包容的看待事物；因为包容，所以看待事物就可以比较客观，待人接物也就表现出比较公允；而公允的人就可以兼顾人心和自然（天地），合而为一，可以称为“王”；以此指引民心所向，推动社会长久发展，也就逐渐成为上下四方广大的存在；知道的人越多，合力越大，就形成了相对稳定的发展道路；道路形成之后可以相对长久的存在。即便失去了领导人，也不会有什么危险。 德合天地者称帝，仁义合者称王。 仁：会意字，两个人，人对人的道德约束；义：義，羊代表祭牲，“我”去祭天，代表人对“天”的道德约束，公义。

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Come to the central and highest position in the house, where the beams meet; control your emotions and keep them hidden. As all things grow and flourish, I can observe their unceasing and cyclical nature.

Clouds rise in the sky, turning into raindrops that fall and seep into the earth, then becoming spring water that gushes out, accumulating to form streams that nurture all things. This is the natural idea that arises in the mind. And this idea is the reason for the cyclical and unceasing nature of life.

The principle of unceasing and cyclical nature is unchanging and eternal. Knowing this basic rule, one can see things clearly and understand them at a glance. If one does not acknowledge or understand this basic rule, one will act impulsively and make hasty judgments, which is dangerous.

By understanding the cyclical and unceasing nature of things, one will not be affected by temporary lows and can view things with more tolerance. Because of this tolerance, one will be more objective and treat others with more fairness; a fair person can balance the needs of people and nature, and will be called a "king." By guiding the hearts of the people and promoting long-term development, one will gradually become a widely recognized presence among all directions. As more people come to understand this, the collective power will become stronger, and a relatively stable development path will be formed. Once the path is established, it will be relatively long-lasting. Even if the leader is lost, there will be no danger.