About the State of Stillness

Quote

The (state of) 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 fulfillment 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 Tao. Possessed of the Tao, he endures long; and to the end of his bodily life, is exempt from all danger of decay. (Chapter 16, Legge version)

Commentary

The state of (inner) void must be prolonged till the utmost. Then tranquillity ensues.

The model of this practice is taken from nature's natural transformation and called "state of stillness".

Those who attain the utmost tranquillity obtain "forbearance, and that capacity and forbearance lead to a community (of feeling with all things)." This is what modern psychologists call fusional feelings.*

Moreover, "from this community of feeling comes a kingliness of character" and the practitioner, king-like, "goes on to be heaven-like".**

Finally, he possessed of the Tao, and thus, he endures long, "and to the end of his bodily life, is exempt from all danger of decay."

***

This chapter is special as it points to the practice of emptiness and its benefits. I also wrote about this practice in my course dealing with Taoist meditation.

Notes
*We find a note about these feelings in a book of Sigmund Freud who derived them from the relationship of a new born child to his/her mother, proof of the state of primordial void where from our ego evolved.

** That is, the Son of Heaven.

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Commentary by Jhian

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