A Study Of Li Zhi's Thought Of Transcending The World And In This World

Li Zhi lived in the late Ming Dynasty,an important period of social transformation.With the development of society and economy,the social stratum has been divided.In particular,with the rise of the citizen stratum,the subjective consciousness of the people gradually awakens,followed by diversity and complexity of values.The code of ethics established by Confucian has been unable to cope with the complex reality by themselves.Exchange of ideas and learning from each other have become an inevitable trend.Huitong branch of School of Wang Su promotes the development of the trend of Huitong thought.Its main characteristics is that Confucianism,Buddhism,Taoism,Hundred school and all the philosophers,and even Western Learning merit from each other academically;in action,they integrate transcending the world and in this world.Li Zhi is one major member of Huitong branch of School of Wang Su.A conventional view from beginning to end of Confucian is that “Way and Virtue” should be considered as human nature.Li Zhi,who breaks this limit of moral standards,directly extends the essence of human nature to the theory of natural human nature.He admits the value of selfish motives and selfish desire,and demonstrates the feasibility and legitimacy of people's pursuit of self-interest.Li Zhi advocates “Everyone can be a saint”,so he doesn't just want to be an Ordinary people in this life.He pursues to benefit mankind and become a saint.“There is no difference between achievement yourself and achievement Others”.In other words,Li Zhi thinks there is no difference between “pursuing Own comfort and Detached transcending the world” and “benefiting mankind and becoming a saint in this world”.What Li Zhi pursues is the state of “Beyond the earthly outside saint”.Being different from the traditional demanding Zen meditation and Monasticism,Li Zhi advocates the casual and suitable Cultivation methods.The Buddhist truth to practice,for Li Zhi,is not the impractical Buddha of the other world,but Earthly Buddha in this side of the world.Firstly,Vow to practice the Buddhist truth results primarily from the “Flesh is the source of pain”.Only when people really feel life's pain will give birth the idea of confirmedly exploring ways of transcending the world and relief.No matter who you are,a monk,the laity;No matter where you are,staying at home or in monastery;As long as you have a pious heart,you could acquire Buddha Dharma.Everyone can use their own convenient access to Buddhist truth.Li Zhi also advocates that “Only by properly dealing with the worldly affairs could help people obtain the Way and Laws” and “Duddhist truth and worldly things will not interfere with each other”.You don't need to be concerned about the external forms,staying at home or in monastery;Even no need to abandon the worldly affairs and ethical emotion.Li Zhi expresses his concern for individual value in the annotation of Master Lao and the annotation of Master Zhuang.The annotation of Master Lao focus on the explanation of political thought “Government by Inaction”.Li Zhi advocates that manager should follow the natural nature of people and don't interfere with their free development.Through the political practice in the Yao'an County,Li Zhi develops the “Zhi Ren Zhi Zhi” thoughts(Following people's nature and Leaving them develop freely),which pays much attention on Individual.In the annotation of Master Zhuang,Li Zhi absorbs and develops the idea of self adaptation and being unfettered.Only by eliminating the boundaries of right and wrong,and of life and death could we obtain the harmony between human being and nature.Li Zhi tries to create conditions from the inside and outside aspects for ensuring the realization of individual value.Li Zhi's ideas seem to be complicated and even contradictory.But through the analysis of the preceding context,its characteristics could be summarized as the individual philosophy of “Truth-oriented” and “Independent”.“Those who seek for knowledge are meant to find the origin and destination of their lives,and the meaning of life”,which is the tenet Li Zhi adheres to.Li Zhi has long been known as “heresy”.One of the most important reason is that his avocation of “Selfish Motives,Selfish Desires”.Yet this is precisely the most valuable contribution of Li Zhi.His advocate facilitates a change to natural humanity from moral humanity theory.This transition also implicates the historical topic of transforming the traditional values to modern concepts.Therefore,Li Zhi's value is characterized as the sixteenth Century enlightenment thinker.