| The aim of this dissertation is,by examining the content and extent of the way Wang Yangming was inspired by Buddhism especially Zen when establishing his scholarship,to provide a successful blend of heterogeneous cultures for the Chinese culture that bears the destiny of "replanting the spiritual root" since the Opium War.After being introduced into China,in China's special cultural atmosphere,Buddhism has shown a distinctive feature which is summarized as "Original Enlightenment" by Professor Lv Cheng without violating Buddhist doctrines.Zen is a typical example of this theory of mind.In the dialogue with Zen's theory of mind which is summarized as "Original Enlightenment",Zhuzi and Yangming established their own theories of mind which are different.An important reason why Yangming can advocate his theory of mind which is summarized as "Original Enlightenment' is that his efforts are focused on stripping away selfish desires,establishand the good will before absorbing knowledge.If the theories of mind of Xiangshan and Baisha are both regarded as the one featured as "Original Enlightenment",then Yangming,s theory of mind can be seemed as a new paradigm which resembles Zen,because its theory of Gongfu is marked by representing the ontology through its functions.In addition,the setting of the innate knowledge which knows good and evil congenitally is believed to be derived both from Confucianism and Zen.The mind theory of "Original Enlightenment" is based on the unity of heart and ontology,and later Yangming uses the concept of innate knowledge to substitute the unity.He also make it own two sides,which establishes the ontological basis for the unity of you and wu in the realm.This was inspired by the the theory of Tathagata-garbha in Buddhism and the heart in chaos in Taoism.At the same time,these two aspects of innate knowledge also lay the foundation for the realization of awe and carelessness.As far as these two points are concerned,Yangming's mind theory of "Original Enlightenment" has become a new paradigm in deeper degree.The similarity of the mind theory model has enabled Yangming's theory to be influenced by Zen in three aspects:highlighting the fundamental purpose,dealing with the relationship between mind and body,and the inner turn of practice.Chinese culture has always attached importance to the practice of physical and mental cultivation.In this cultural atmosphere,Zen does not pay attention to cumbersome analysis of names and complex theories,while advocates the method of epiphany,cancels the order of meditation,and directly pursues enlightenment,all which highlights the ultimate aim of seeking liberation in Buddhism.Similarly,Yangming's scholarship abolished the steps of kungfu and advocated the unity of knowing and action.He merged the "over-analysis" efforts put forward by Zhuxi into one,thus establishing the theory of simplicity.He also emphasized the importance of ambition.As to the problem of "gewu" that bothered him,Yangming made it serve his own system through the intentional explanation of "wu".At this point,Yangming was probably inspired by Consciousness-Only and the integration of mind and object of Zen Buddhism.Both Buddhism and Confucianism have external norms and internal efforts.However,the Zen and Yangming' s theory completely internalized the practice.They stood at the height of the Buddha or the saint to explain the external commandments,classics,and saints with the state of the mind,establishing the most clever path of practice,which also foreshadowed the opposite direction of the two scholarships.Finally,in terms of realm theory,it is difficult to say that Yangming s realm of "no good and no evil" was "mainly" influenced by the Zen.Taoism and pre-Qin Confucianism also have the spiritual tradition of "wu".It can be seen that Yangming inherited the ideological resources of the three schools.Making a little investigation of pre-Qin Confucianism and Taoism is to grasp the degree of Zen's inspiration to Yangming's theory more accurately,which can prevent partiality. |
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