老庄哲学中的光明意象释义

The Image of Light in the Philosophy of Laozi and Zhuangzi

用光明意象描述至上本体和理想人物是古代中西哲学的常见现象,老庄用以呈现本体之道和得道者的这类意象却具有别样的思想意趣。首先,二者在指出道兼具光明与晦暗两个相反特点的同时,更特别强调其晦暗的一面而弱化其光明的特点,其目的在于确保万物"自然"的显现和生发免受最高存在者光芒的强势遮蔽,所谓道与万物"和其光"实为老子"道法自然"思想的视觉意象表达。其次,通过内视、凝守、虚静等工夫修养,老庄都认为得道者将契会道的光明一面,获得光明的心境;所不同者,这种内在光明感在庄子笔下更具神秘色彩和超越精神,在老子那里则透显着自知自明的政治理性特质。最后,与道的晦暗一面相应,老庄都主张得道者应遵循知白守黑、"光而不燿"的行为法则,反对圣人外耀德智的光辉以笼罩百姓、治平天下,他们推崇的敛抑光芒、黯弱自守的"玄德"之圣实则是对以光辉显耀的尧孔为代表的儒家"明德"之圣的拨反和批评。

Adopting the image of light to refer to the Supreme Being and ideal person is common both in Western and Eastern philosophy. However,Laozi and Zhuangzi have many unique interpretations in this respect.Firstly,both of them prefer to stress the dark aspect of Tao in order to shield the growth of the natural beings from the harm of the dazzling light of the Supreme Being. In this sense,"living with light "is a visual expression of "Laozi’s notion that the Tao follows nature". Secondly,by practicing inner-observation and keeping mental silence,Laozi and Zhuangzi believe that one can understand the brilliance of light so as to achieve an enlightened mind,although the two sages offer different accounts,i. e.,Zhuangzi stresses the supernatural spirit more while Laozi argues for the self-enlightenment of political reason. Lastly,in comparison to the dark aspect of Tao,Laozi and Zhuangzi maintain that the politicians should follow the rule of "light without dazzling harm"to avoid the disturbance of the common people’s lifestyles. Therefore,the Taoist ideal of keeping a light free from dazzling harm is a wise correction to Confucianism ’s doctrine of light for illuminating values.