一念三千、意義意志與生命意義的開展

Three Thousand Realms in a Single Thought–the Will to Meaning and the Revealing of the Meaning of Life

This paper contrasts Viktor E. Frank's will to meaning and the idea of the single thought as in three thousand realms in a single thought to explore the relationship between the meaning of life and psychological health. This comparison will touch upon two areas: the implications of the structure of the mind and of the meaning of life, as well as the way to transcending life. I suggest that although they pursue different values, the will to meaning and the single thought both provide guideposts to spiritual life. As free and self-directed experiential subjects, they rise above present phenomenon by their awareness. It is through such transcendence that they can open up to higher level of spiritual values, which bring about a comprehensive development of the mind, and an awakening to the richness of life's meanings. One of the important keys to achieving these transformations is to redirect one's excessive preoccupation with oneself towards the transcendental meanings of life, which exist beyond one's physiological and psychological dimensions, and allow the soul to draw spiritual strength from such meanings.