Chapter 16
Ka Hōʻuluʻulu ʻia o ka Poʻe Hōʻeha
Kumumua
夫物芸芸，各复归其根。归根曰静，是谓复命。复命曰常，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，没身不殆。
Unuhi
Nā mea nui o ke ao nei, ʻo kēlā mea kēlā mea, e hoʻi i kona kumu. ʻO ka hoʻi ʻana i ke kumu, ʻo ia ka maha—a hea ʻia ʻo ia, ʻo ka hoʻi ʻana i ka poʻe ʻuhane. ʻO ka hoʻi ʻana i ka poʻe ʻuhane, ʻo ia ka poʻe ʻuhane nō.
ʻO ka ʻike ʻana i ka poʻe ʻuhane, ʻo ia ka poʻe ʻuhane. ʻO ka ʻaʻole ʻike ʻana, ʻo ia ka poʻe ʻuhane ʻeha.
ʻO ka ʻike ʻana i ka poʻe ʻuhane, hiki ia ke poʻe ʻuhane; ʻo ka poʻe ʻuhene, hiki ia ke poʻe ʻuhane like; ʻo ka poʻe ʻuhane like, hiki ia ke poʻe ʻuhane nui; ʻo ka poʻe ʻuhane nui, hiki ia ke poʻe ʻuhane o ka lani; ʻo ka poʻe ʻuhane o ka lani, hiki ia ke poʻe ʻuhane o ke ala; ʻo ke ala, hiki ia ke poʻe ʻuhane mau. A ʻaʻole e poina i ka poʻe ʻuhane ʻuhane.
Nōnōmea Hohonu
He aha kēia paukū e pili ana?
This chapter reveals that to empty the mind completely and rest in deep stillness is to watch all things arise and return to their source. All beings return to their root—returning to the root is stillness, called returning to destiny. Knowing this constancy brings clarity; not knowing it brings chaos. The one who knows the constant becomes open, then fair, then a leader, aligned with heaven and the Way itself.
Pehea ka pilina iaʻu?
I know that my nature also returns to stillness like all things. When I chase after desires, I forget my root and become lost. But when I rest in the quiet place within, I touch the eternal constancy that gives rise to all things. This knowing brings peace that does not depend on circumstances.
He aha kaʻu e hana ai i kēia lā?
Find a quiet moment to simply observe the breath—arising, passing away, returning. Without grasping or controlling, watch thoughts rise and fall. Practice returning to stillness throughout the day: pause at red lights, before meals, between tasks. Let each return be a practice of going home to your root.
Nā Moʻo Pili
Kuʻu Manaʻo
He aha kā kēia moʻo e hoʻāla ai iā ʻoe? Pehea ʻoe e hoʻohana ai?