Han Wangxi

4. The individual mind is identical with the principle of the universe

In Chinese culture, building a human community with a shared future and pursuing universal knowledge on benevolence and proper destiny for human beings are particularly considered. The inner purpose for spreading Chinese culture is to inherit Confucianism and to create a peaceful world for our generation and the next.

Mencius said that he kept the universe in his mind, kept examining himself and kept asking himself if he cared for others and loved others. According to Mencius, a benevolent man is attached to his parents, shows benevolence to other people and is compassionate to all creatures. There is no greater joy for him than to find that he is a compassionate person.

Lu Jiuyuan, a Chinese philosopher from the Song Dynasty (960-1279), said, “The universe is in my mind, and my mind is identical with the principle of the universe.” Lu believed that there is unity for benevolent people and the universe. Consciousness and compassion make up the inner drive for a person to care for and have concern for others. Only when people surmise others’ thoughts, interpersonal connections can be made.

Mencius said: “All palates have the same preference in taste, all ears in sound, all eyes in beauty. Are humans’ minds an exception with nothing in common? Humans actually share their common minds in patterns and righteousness. The sage has discovered the common element in people’s minds.”

People share common sense on reasonable matters. Thus, reasons and righteousness please our hearts the same way as delicacies please our palates. Confucianism steadily believes that humans and the universe are unified. All humans have compassion and naturally feel for others.

Wang Yangming gave his interpretation on the origins of human compassion. He said, “A human’s compassion is derived from his mind.” If we want to succeed in doing something, we are taught to purify our heart, making it as clear as a mirror, like a sage’s. A sage’s heart is clear enough to reflect everything.

Wang held against staying quietly without meditation; instead, he firmly advocated for picking up ideas and applied them to reality. He said, “I taught people to sit still without mental disturbance.” According to him, sitting still is not enough. One must do some introspection and self-discipline. Most importantly, people are taught to learn true knowledge that can be put into practical use, take actions in a sincere and earnest way and gain inner power through sufferings.

According to Zhu Xi, a renowned philosopher from the Song Dynasty, all things have their own patterns. Stepping forward, Wang insisted on a concept saying patterns are discerned by the human mind which represents the unity of inner knowledge and action.

(The author is a cultural scholar.)

(Translated by Chen Siqi)