brought to rest by using force,
But can be calmed by using De.
Can not be summoned by using your voice,
But can be made welcome by using your intent.

When you can respectfully* maintain it, and never lose it,
This is called developed De.
When De develops, and wisdom* arises,
The bounty of the ten thousand creatures is attained.

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Always : the form of the heart/mind is
Naturally full, naturally overflowing,
Naturally born, naturally complete.
The reason that you lose it
Is certainly due to worries and happiness, love and anger, desire for profit.
If you can leave behind worries and happiness, love and anger, desire for
      profit,
Your heart/mind then returns [to its original nature] successfully.

The nature of that heart/mind
Benefits from calmness and the tranquility that comes from it.
Do not be troubled, do not be confused,
And harmony is then naturally achieved.

Is it very bright?
As though located right by your side.
Is it very easy to overlook?
As though it will never be attained.
Is it very remote and indistinct?
As though utterly without boundaries.

To examine this, you need not go far :
You use De daily.

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Now : Dao is the reason that the form [of the heart/mind] is full!
But people can not be strong enough to keep it -
It goes and does not return,
It arrives but does not dwell.

Is it silent?
There is no one who can hear its sound.
Is it close[A]?
It is residing in the heart/mind.
Is it very dim and obscure?
You can not see its form.
Is it very prolific?
It gives us all life.

You can not see its form,
You can not hear its voice,
Yet there is an order to its accomplishments.
We call it Dao.

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Always : Dao is nowhere to be found,
But in a virtuous heart/mind it can calmly dwell.
When the heart/mind is still and Qi is regulated,
Dao can then stay there.

That Dao is not remote :
Citizens attain it by being born.
That Dao does not depart :
Citizens rely on it for understanding.

Thus : is it close[A]?
As though it could be tied together with you.
Is it very minute and subtle?
As though it is utterly nowhere to be found.

The nature of that Dao
Detests thoughts and words about it.
But when you cultivate your heart/mind and still your thoughts,
Dao can then be attained.

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Dao -
That which your mouth can not speak!
That which your eyes can not see!
That which your ears can not hear!
It is the reason that we cultivate the heart/mind and properly align
      [its][B] form!
That which when people lose, thus they die.
That which when attained, thus they are born!
That which when duties lose, thus they fail.
That which when attained, thus they are completed!

Always : Dao is
Without root, without stalk,
Without leaves, without flowers.
By means of it the ten thousand creatures are born,
By means of it the ten thousand creatures are made complete.
This [natural] order, it is called Dao.

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That which presides over Heaven is proper alignment,
That which presides over Earth is equability,
That which presides over people is calmness and stillness.

Spring, autumn, winter, summer -
The timing of heaven!
Mountains, hills, streams, valleys -
The limbs of the earth!
Love, anger, taking, giving -
The schemes of the people!

Thus the sage :
Takes part in the changing of the seasons, but is not transformed;
He attends to creatures, but is not changed by them.

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When you can be properly aligned and can be still[C] -
Then, you can be settled.
With a settled heart/mind in your center,
Your ears and eyes are acute and clear,
Your four limbs are hard and strong,
You are able to become a dwelling for essence.
This essence -
Is essence of Qi!

With Qi and Dao, then there is life;
With life, then there is contemplation;
With contemplation, then there is understanding;
When you reach understanding, then stop!
Always : if the form of the heart/mind
Has too much understanding, life is lost.

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Knowing the Oneness[D] with creatures can transform them,
We call this being spirit-like[E].
Knowing the Oneness with your duties can change them,
We call this being wise*.

To transform creatures, without altering your Qi;
To change duties, without altering your wisdom*;[F]
Only a noble man* who maintains Oneness[G]
Can do this!

When he maintains Oneness[G] and does not lose it,
He can rule[H] the ten thousand creatures.
A noble man* uses creatures,
He does not allow creatures to use[I] him.

When he attains the regulation of Oneness :
A regulated heart/mind resides in his center,
Regulated speech comes from his mouth,
Regulated duties are assigned to people.
Then, the world is regulated!

One word[J] is attained by him, and the world obeys him;
One word[J] settles him, and the world listens to him.
We call him fair and just!

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If the form [of the heart/mind] is not properly aligned,
De will not arrive.
If the center is not still,
The heart/mind will not be regulated.

When the properly aligned form takes in De,
The kindness* of heaven and the righteousness* of earth
Then naturally arrive, and overwhelmingly.

This highest of spirit-like understanding[K] -
Is it illuminating?
You will understand the ten thousand creatures.[L]

Maintain the righteousness* of the center, and you will not err :
Do not allow creatures to confuse your senses,
Do not allow the senses to confuse your heart/mind.
This is called attaining the center.

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There exists a spirit[-like understanding] naturally located in the self -
One moment it goes, one moment it arrives;
There is no one who can contemplate it.
Lose it and you will certainly be confused,
Attain it and you will certainly be regulated.