Wang Yangming’s Concept of Oneness from the Perspective of Mysticism
Religions September 2, 2024 Peer reviewed DOI: 10.3390/rel15091066 via Semantic Scholar
Summary
Wang Yangming's philosophy of oneness, though appearing as extrovertive mysticism in its claim that 'all things form one body,' is better understood as introvertive mysticism due to his unique definition of 'thing' and the central role of the heart-mind. The oneness realm arises from a heart-mind pervading the universe, with liangzhi serving as both pure consciousness and the world's foundation. Viewing his theory through a mystical lens reveals it as a spiritual philosophy beyond mere ethics, deepening comprehension of his philosophy of mind.
Study at a glance
| Design | comparative study |
|---|---|
| Key finding | Wang Yangming's doctrine of oneness is more aligned with introvertive mysticism than extrovertive mysticism due to the special definition of 'thing' and the deep involvement of heart-mind. |
Abstract
Wang Yangming’s emphasis on the concept of oneness establishes a significant connection between his philosophy and mysticism. This comparative study draws upon his mystical encounters and conceptual framework. Although “all things form one body” appears to be a typical formula of extrovertive mysticism, his doctrine is more inclined to be classified as a type of introvertive mysticism because of the special definition of “thing” and the deep involvement of heart–mind. The realm of oneness is based on the mode of a heart–mind pervading the entirety of the universe and all things, with the core concept of liangzhi as both pure consciousness and the base of the world. The adoption of a mystical philosophical perspective highlights Wang’s theory of oneness as a spiritual philosophy, transcending general ethical claims, thus enriching our understanding of Wang’s philosophy of mind.