Relationship between Haven¹ and Man

“天”与“人”的关系

The discussion about the relationship between the universe and man focused on whether “Heaven” was regarded as a supreme² god with its own will，or whether it was simply nature with neither will nor purpose. If man regarded “Heaven” as a supreme conscious god, he would be destined³ to worship andobey it with no possibility of changing it. In face of nature, man would havebeen reduced to nothing, except as appendices and slaves to nature,inevitably leading man toward religious beliefs and supernaturalism. If mantook “Heaven” simply as nature, with a close relationship with himself, he wouldtry his best to understand it and its laws, and act accordingly, protecting it andmaking good use of it, ceasing to be passive in the relationship and graduallybecome the master of nature.

关于宇宙和人的关系的讨论集中在“天”是否被认为是至高无上的神有自己的意志，还是它只是自然而已，没有其他意思。如果人认为“天人合一”作为一个至高无上的意识的神，他将被注定崇拜和服从它而没有其他选择。面对大自然，人会一无所有除了成为自然的附属物和奴隶，这必然也导致人朝着宗教信仰和超自然主义发展。如果人把“天”只是视为自然，与自己关系密切，他会想尽办法去了解它和它的规律，并采取相应的行动，保护它，用好它，不再是与它被动的关系，并逐渐成为自然的主人。