What are good Roots? (1)
AN201710-01Good roots are our divine nature
Remove our obscuration to reveal our good roots
The Chinese philosopher Mengzi taught that our nature is good.
Xunzi, however, taught that our nature is evil.
Gaozi taught that our nature can be good or evil.
All three are correct in their teachings, they are not contradictory.
Human beings have 3 natures according to Wang Fengyi – a Confucian teacher.
Mengzi was referring to the Heavenly nature.
Xunzi was referring to the Inherited nature, and
Gaozi refers to the habitual nature.
1) Heavenly Nature 天性 (virtue) – Pure goodness (good roots) and all virtuous qualities
2) Inherited Nature 禀性 (transgression) – Pure evil: Anger, Hatred, Blame, Irritation, Annoyance, Jealousy, Revenge, Pride, Faking, Vexations, Frustrations etc
3) Habitual Nature 习性 (enslavement) – Habits: Gluttony, drinking alcohol, prostitution, gambling, smoking etc habits fall under this. If we have little addictions, our habitual nature will be good and vice versa.
All of us have 1). However, its expression is obscured by 2) and 3) to different extents in different people.
Those with a dominant Heavenly Nature 天性, will be warm and gentle, love others with virtue, regard all others as good and lead others with kindness.
Those who have a strong Inherited Nature 禀性, will be resentful and hateful, always putting on a long face, they dislike and find faults with everyone deep inside them and are vicious.
Those who act from their Habitual Nature 习性, will be always running after their desires, such as eating, shopping, sex, money, alcohol etc. and influence others to do likewise like them.
If we nurture our Habitual nature with addictions, we will also grow our Inherited nature (transgressions).
Habitual nature excessive + Inherited nature strong = Heavenly nature obscured.
Habitual nature tamed + Inherited nature weak = Heavenly nature shines.
If we want the Habitual Nature to be good, we have to get rid of our addictions (including mental ones).
To transform the Inherited Nature, we have to abandon the view of self.
To make Heavenly Nature shine, we have to get rid of our selfish desires.
When habitual nature is discarded, inherited nature transformed, then our Heavenly nature (good roots) will be fully expressed and it is possible to be in complete alignment with virtue.
The strong tree stump (heavenly nature) which no one took notice, shows that most of the time we are sunk in our obscuration of the inherited and habitual nature (rest of the tree). Only when these are removed, the heavenly nature has the chance to show its beauty.
Source: Adapted from Wang Feng Yi's teachings
SilentContemplation
