Tao Te Ching – Verse 26 – The heavy is the root of the light. The unmoved is the source of all movement.

Tao Te Ching – Verse 26

The heavy is the root of the light.
The unmoved is the source of all movement.

Thus the Master travels all day
without leaving home.
However splendid the views,
she stays serenely in herself.
Why should the lord of the country
flit about like a fool?
If you let yourself be blown to and fro,
you lose touch with your root.
If you let restlessness move you,
you lose touch with who you are.
(translation by Stephen Mitchell, 1995)
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Heaviness is the root of lightness
Quietness is the master of restlessness

Therefore the sages travel an entire day
Without leaving the heavy supplies
Even though there are luxurious sights
They are composed and transcend beyond

How can the lords of ten thousand chariots
Apply themselves lightly to the world?
To be light is to lose one’s root
To be restless is to lose one’s mastery

(translation by Derek Lin, 2006)
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Neither heavy nor light.
Be not seduced down the road of travel.
Mastery is still.

(translation by Jeremy M. Miller, 2013)
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from I Ching Online

Author: harinam

Yogi, teacher, healer

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