Yangming's theory of mind-mind is reason

On the fifth day of Zheng Dechu's third day (1508), a sigh broke the quiet night sky. "The sage's way is self-sufficient, and those who seek truth from facts are also wrong." Wang Yangming enlightened in Longchang, Guizhou! Later, Wang Yangming put forward a core idea, that is, "the heart is reasonable, the heart is unreasonable, and there is nothing outside the heart."

The generation of an idea must first understand its background. So why did Wang Yangming put forward the view that "mind is reason"?

To understand the cultural background at that time, we have to talk about Zhu (the word is dark, the word is medium, and the name is dark). Zhu's core idea lies in "the unity of knowledge and action". He believes that there is only one principle, that is, there is only one principle, but the principle of nature is manifested in the fact that everything in Qian Qian is divided into thousands, and there are also differences. ""Knowing from things "means that everything is very reasonable, and these things are sorted out one by one, and finally summarized by induction and justice.

When Wang Yangming put forward that "mind is reason", Zhu's thought had been firmly established as a brother, and the world took Zhu as the academic leader and Zhu's Neo-Confucianism as the way to become a saint. Wang Yangming proved the infeasibility of Zhu's Neo-Confucianism through personal practice, so in this case, he tried to tell people at that time to set things right by saying that "the heart is the reason-the person who seeks reason from things is wrong", not to seek truth from external things, but to seek truth from the heart. This is the way to sanctify our world.

Although Wang Yangming's thought of "knowing people by things" is different from Zhu's, Wang Yangming does not deny Zhu, but only says that Zhu's theory is aimed at people who are born with knowledge, that is, talented people. Such people are born with Tao in their hearts, like the wisdom of the six ancestors, so they can naturally see Tao in everything and figure out the reasons. However, most of us are not born with this knowledge, and this method is not suitable for us. Therefore, Wang Yangming takes "mind is reason" as the entry method to tell the world the entry basis for becoming a saint.

In fact, the idea of "mind is reason" was not initiated by Wang Yangming, but invented by Lu Jiuyuan (word, Xiangshan). In Zhu's era, it was inseparable to fight side by side with Zhu, which showed that his strength was extraordinary. The core of Lu Jiuyuan's thought is "mind is reason". He said: "four directions, up to the sun, down to the universe, up to ancient and modern times." The universe is my heart, and my heart is the universe. " Lu Jiuyuan's "mind is reason" is the product of the combination of Confucianism and Buddhism, and he is more inclined to idealism. Moreover, he didn't think deeply about the follow-up of Mind is Reason, and stopped halfway to the lighthouse.

The same is "mind is reason". What's the difference between Wang Yangming and Lu Jiuyuan?

Wang Yangming's "mind is reason" is only the foundation. On this basis, there are many ideas to correct "mind is reason" so that it will not flow into meditation and fall into the field of idealism. This is the biggest feature of Wang Yangming's "mind is reason". Wang Yangming's theory that "the heart is rational, the heart is unreasonable, and there is nothing outside the heart" is based on our heart, which is more practical to save the sacred learning in a fragmented situation.

From the perspective of filial piety, people all over the world think that learning how to give things to parents, how to raise parents, and even how to decorate themselves with superficial work such as words is filial piety. This is seeking truth from external things, so the truth is fragmented, superficial and unverifiable.

But from the perspective of "mind is reason", we must first find the lost true self that we want to be filial in our hearts. Only when we plant a filial seed in our hearts, and then constantly care and water it, let it sprout and give birth to branches and leaves. First, if you consolidate the principle of seeking filial piety in your mind, you will naturally find a way to be filial. This method may be in ancient books, may have been heard of by teachers, or it may be in a casual moment, so that filial piety can be truly implemented without any false selfish intention.

Therefore, Wang Yangming's "mind is reason" is said from the root of ontology, starting from the root, so everything will be scattered. Therefore, the more vivid expression of Wang Yangming's "mind is reason" is "unreasonable outside the heart", that is, don't blindly look for truth outside. This truth is empty, and the use it embodies also makes people appear hypocritical and unreal. Only by starting from the heart and being honest with your heart can you really fall into behavior and live your true self.

This is the difference between Lu Jiuyuan's mind and Wang Yangming's mind. One is pure nothingness, which is Zen. One is realism, paying attention to noumenon and root, starting from root and spreading branches and leaves. Wang Yangming's theory of mind is more like running water with a source, tireless and endless.

The heart is the root. Let's have a healthy root first, then keep irrigation, and one day it will spread its branches and leaves, blossom and bear fruit.

Mr. Wang Yangming's little disciple hopes that the Saint Sect will flourish and everyone can have a happy heart.