Line by Line - Verse 16, Line 5

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.
~ James Legge translation, from The Sacred Books of the East, 1891 ~

Returning to the source is stillness, which is the way of nature.
~ Gia-fu Feng and Jane English translation, published by Vintage Books, 1989 ~

Returning to the root is called tranquility Tranquility is called returning to one's nature
~ Derek Lin translation, from Tao Te Ching: Annotated & Explained, published by SkyLight Paths, 2006 ~

And whenever something becomes nothing, it gets right with Tao.
~ Ron Hogan rendition, from Beatrice.com, 2004 ~

In life, forms are active. In death, they become inactive. This isn't an idea we need to create within our intellectual faculties; our senses pick up on this phenomena all around us.

To take but one example, consider a tree. Throughout its active life, it grows. It generates blossoms, leaves, needles, cones, nuts and/or seeds. In time, it stops growing and begins the long period of decay. Eventually, it topples over and decomposes to provide life to other forms. It is no longer a tree.

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