In the World or beyond the World:Liang Shuming's Ultimate Concern

Among modern Neo-Confucians' theories, Liang Shuming's ultimate concern is characterized by the tension of in the or the world, concerning for worldly affairs or transcending the reality. By analyzing social problems Liang Shuming asserts that both ethic and religion are related to our ultimate concern. He places his ultimate concern on ethic and religion, that is to say, solving the problem by the traditions of Confucian's ethic and Hinduism. In the light of Liang Shuming's theory, whether Confucian's concerning for worldly affairs or Hinduism's transcending the reality, they both contain the dual affirmations of reality and transcendency. They are two different manifestations of the unified oriental civilization. In his exposition he proves the unity of in the world and beyond the world, which deconstructs the tension of his ultimate concern.