Transmitting Records

Author: Shen Shunkui
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Publish Date: 2004-06-01
Features: The Collected Works of Wang Yangming is divided into three volumes (Upper, Middle, and Lower), compiled by his disciples and recorded the teachings of Wang Yangming and his letters responding to friends and disciples on academic matters. It is the most renowned work for studying the practice of Yangming's Mind School, encompassing his entire philosophical system and fundamental doctrines, considered the sacred text of the Wang School and a classic of Mind School. In the Collected Works, Master Wang Yangming elaborates on his rich philosophical thoughts. Regarding Mind School, he stated: "There are no objects outside the mind," "There are no principles outside the mind," "Seeking the highest good in all things and affairs is external to righteousness; the highest good is the inherent nature of the mind," "The mind is principle; is there anything outside the mind that is not a matter of the mind, or a principle outside the mind?" "My spiritual light is the master of heaven, earth, spirits, and gods. Heaven, earth, spirits, and all things cease to exist without my spiritual light." He believed that the existence of things depends on human consciousness.