Abstract

Why do people study? They do it in order to become a Sage. As Zhu Xi taught, “One can become a Sage through study.” In other words, every human being can reach the level of “Sage” through the medium of study. The reason is that “Principles” are present in all things of the outside world, but are also equally present within the human heart. If we continue our efforts to investigate, on the one hand, the “Principles” that are within the things of the outside world and, on the other, to concentrate our minds and to scrutinize the “Principles” that are present within our hearts, then, eventually, the highest “Principle,” that keeps the whole of this cosmos together, will become clear.