阳明四句教中的本体善恶及工夫顿渐问题

The Good or Evil of the Noumenon and the Sudden or Gradual Realization in Wang Yangming's Four-sentence Doctrine

四句教是阳明晚年提出的教旨,涉及本体与工夫两个层面。心体具有超越性、完满性,无滞无着,故"无善无恶";其本然状态合乎天理,故又为"至善"。也正因心体无欠无余,故工夫只能在意动上实施,致其良知。工夫中因个人根器不同而有顿、渐之分,但这只是在"悟"的层面,最终仍需切实地入"修",工夫整体仍是渐修。四句教尽管在一定程度上受到禅宗影响,但更应当看到其与儒学传统内在的一脉相承。

The Four-sentence Doctrine was proposed by Wang Yangming in his later years. It refers to two levels - the noumenon and the cultivation. The mind is transcendental and perfect, and not good or evil. And its natural status is in harmony with nature, so it is also supreme good. Cultivation just can be done in one＇s conation, extending innate knowledge. In the process of cultivation, there exists the sudden or gradual way with different people, but the difference just lies in enlightenment, and cultivation has to be done through practical work. Although the Four-sentence Doctrine is influenced by Zen to seme extent, we can still see its succession of Confucianism.