退溪의 마음공부

Abstract

Toegye greatly emphasized on mind. His study is in regard to the study on mind that is called 'Simhak(心學)‘. The mind that Toegye congnized was subjective mind of self rather than objectified mind or mind of objective others. Toegye also sublated academically objectified mind, His study was a practical effort that was focused on maintaining his own mind ideally. Accordingly, Simhak(心學) is 'learning of mind'. As a great scholar, he wholly devote on mind study all throughout his life. This study addresses the reason and intention on learning of mind. Toegye's purpose of study was to become a sage, which he pursued all his life. Toegye had full assurance of his belief on becoming a sage and its potentiality, so that he continuously devoted himself enthusiastically to become a sage. A sage that Toegye pursued to become was not exactly the saviour or the person who would establish the system or norms. Rather, a sage is the person who has learned one's mind. It is a person who is able to respond appropriately at any circumstances with proper emotions. Since a sage is a being that becomes embodied one with heaven, Toegye's learning of mind can be converged into Gyeong(敬), which means pursuing Seong(誠). Gyeong(敬) is an effort of human beings to pursue Seong(誠) which is 도(道) of heaven, namely, that can be explained as an effort to perceive the inner voice of human nature which is embodied Heavenly Mandate(天命). Therefore, the purpose of his study was to constantly perceive the voice from inside the mind for all his life.