精神——人与道的悖论

Spirit: A Paradox between Man and Tao

道家以道为宇宙之总法则 ,认为人和天地万物均出于道 ,均应遵循道。但人们却往往背离了道。人为什么背离了道 ?因为人有精神 ,精神有其自由性。行为受精神支配 ,故行为亦有自由性 ,可以“无为”而顺应自然或道 ,也可“妄作”而违逆自然或道。那么人应通过什么途径来体道以合于道 ?精神虽是人背离道的原因 ,但道家认为体道还须通过精神 。

Taoism regard Tao as a general principle of Universe that man and all the other creatures including the heaven and the earth come from Tao and keep to Tao. However, for the most part people fall away from Tao, so it is necessary to experience Tao and follow Tao. Man comes from Tao and falls away from Tao, which is the main relationship between them. Why does man fall away from Tao? Because of the spirit of man, which has its freedom. Actions dominated by spirit have their freedom as well. As a result, man can be “Wu Wei” to follow the nature or Tao, or frivolous to fall away. Then how can people experience and follow Tao? Spirit is the only way to reach it, though spirit is the reason that man fall away from Tao.