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reference to this poem in particular； the Sage showed me that Lao Tzu had unconsciously written a sort of inner autobiography in verse； and that this is how I could present it in English。
Everyone； without exception； has the inner wherewithal to experience art and nature this way梛ust look within make that peculiar connection with the Tao that only you can make with it。
16
While sitting in stillness；
Connect with the Cosmic Harmony。
By clearing the space within；
In steadfast quietude；
Let your true self observe
The numberless compressions of consciousness：
How they arise and recede；
Coming into being and blooming；
Retreating at last toward the Cosmic Origin。
Return to the root； to the primal nature；
Is the way of all beings。
Let your awareness contemplate
The eternal cycle of return；
And your insight will deepen in this。
The understanding that is nurtured
On the dispersion of ignorance
Perpetually broadens its perspective。
To embrace the way of return；
To feel the immutable equality of being；
Nurtures equanimity and justice。
To live in the Tao means abiding in the eternal…
Perceiving completely； with all one抯 being：
Life is never exhausted；
It is only delusion that dies。
This poem again reveals Lao Tzu's familiarity with the I Ching； for it evokes and draws upon Hexagram 24 of that text； which is called 〃Returning。〃 To the poet（s） of the I Ching； 揜eturning？is about feeling the cycle death…and…life in every moment； in the same way that beauty and truth become one within an open heart。
This is an accurate summation of the theme of Chapter 16 of Lao Tzu as well； for it is what the poet means by 〃the dispersion of ignorance；〃 and 〃it is only delusion that dies。〃
Also in Hexagram 24； the original text of the Judgment says； 〃to and fro goes the way。〃 This is the dance of form and non…form described by Lao Tzu in this poem： forms arise and recede； they are born； flourish； and then retreat to their Cosmic Origin。 And indeed； 〃life is never exhausted；〃 for this return to non…form is followed by transformation back into form as the dance of consciousness endlessly perpetuates。 We can truly experience this Cosmic Principle of returning； by 〃clearing the space within〃 in meditation； and by separating ourselves from the rigid prejudice of ignorance and false belief。 This process of allowing inner clarity to develop opens understanding and 〃nurtures equanimity and justice。〃 It is a self…perpetuating and deeply nourishing inner experience that never seems to run its course； but is always complete in itself； each time we allow it to arise。
Chapter 16 is a deeply moving poem。 It is a literary meditation on death…as…life： forthright； dignified； and utterly free of false sentiment or ideology。 To inwardly perceive the Cosmic principle of returning is to see beyond the realm of the apparent； it is the natural and most nourishing movement of the human heart。
17
The truly developed self
Is ever aware of the Cosmic Presence。
Another may abide
In love and praise of it；
Still another might fear it；
And finally there are those
Who hold it in contempt。
Trust is not built on faith；
It is nurtured on experience。
One following the Sage uses words sparingly；
And lets his natural action speak；
His work is not enslaved to a goal…
Its accomplishment is his statement。
Then progress happens
As if no one had tried。
18
Wherever the cosmic order is neglected；
Goodness and morality are born。
When the heart抯 awareness is repressed；
The intellect is led into hypocrisy。
When the family loses its natural harmony；
The rules of duty and honor are enforced。
When the natural society is disrupted；
The dragon of state arises；
And powerful leaders take over。
Separation from the Cosmic Whole is misfortune because it starves the true self in a suffocating act of oppression。 This can happen at an intimately individual level （within the heart）； among a family； or within an entire society of people； and the result is the same： a forced and false limitation of the natural self； the natural family； or the natural society。 The I Ching refers to this type of oppression as 〃galling limitation〃 in Hexagram 60； Limitation。 It adds that this 〃galling limitation must not be persevered in。〃
Lao Tzu reminds us that when the cosmic order is repressed； families； communities； and nations are then turned into food…chain style hierarchies梡ower structures supported by rigid and superficial notions of morality； intelligence； duty； reward； and obligation。 An entire spectrum of sacrificial self…images arises from these ideas： images of the obedient spouse； the sacrificing parent； the hero in society； and the honor of god； country； family； or of the self as defined in the context of the collective； and the forced duties that this honor demands。 In the next poem； Chapter 19； and several others； Lao Tzu encourages us to destroy self…images梐s individuals； families； and nations梑y ridding ourselves of the false ideas that feed them。 As he suggests in Chapter 19； we all have the 〃inner discernment〃 to detect deceit and oppression； once we nurture and use that natural ability； we can then simply release ourselves of the ideas that further oppression。
19
Separate from spirituality；
Extinguish wisdom；
And there will be benefit for all。
Discard all pretence
To piety and benevolence；
And the people will help one another。
Close the academies；
Extirpate the feudal rites；
And sorrow will be annihilated。
Banish investment vehicles；
Impoverish the profit…takers；
And there will be neither thieves nor frauds。
These are the ornaments of my teaching；
But hardly the essence； which is this：
Rely upon your inner discernment；
Return to your original purity；
Wear down your ego；
Break out of the circle of desire。
20
Shut down your intellect； and answer：
Between yes and no； spoken from within；
How little a difference is there；
Compared to that between success and failure？
Why would I fear what others do？
Why must I give my inner consent
To the values of the collective？
Oh！ How the desolation around me
Has reached its utmost sunken limit！
The lusty mob is buried in busyness；
As if gathered for a sacrificial feast
（Yet who or what is being sacrificed？）
But I alone…as if from an outpost of vigilance…
Am apart： blank and unmoved；
Like an infant who hasn抰 yet learned to smile。
Isolated and withdrawn； I am like a homeless man。
Others are absorbed in getting and spending；
While I appear broken and bare of influence。
Others shine with the luminous glow
Of progress； brilliance； and daring；
But I am like a simpleton； vapid and raving。
The world around me teems with cleverness；
I alone retreat into dullness。
With what fathomless depth；
Like a sea…born whirlpool