The "Mind-Heart Learning" of Communists: The "Inner Sage" Learning of Marxist Self-Revolution

At the National Conference on Party School Work in 2015, General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out: "Party spirit education is a required course for Communists to cultivate their moral character, and it is also the 'mind-heart learning' (心学) of Communists." In recent years, he has repeatedly demanded that Party cadres rectify their minds and cultivate their moral character and cultivate Party spirit, incorporating this into the category of Communists' "self-revolution." Clearly, this is the

2015年习近平总书记在全国党校工作会议上指出：“党性教育是共产党人修身养性的必修课，也是共产党人的‘心学’。”近年来，他多次对党员干部提出正心修身、修炼党性的要求，并把它纳入共产党人“自我革命”的范畴。显然，这是习近平总书记创造性转化和创新性发展作为中华优秀传统文化博大内容之一的中华“心学”的结果，是“古为今用”的典范。值得注意的是，习近平总书记多次强调阳明“心学”属于中华优秀传统文化，必须在新的历史条件下予以批判地继承。他在2019年春季学期中央党校（国家行政学院）中青年干部培训班开班式上强调：“广大干部特别是年轻干部要在常学常新中加强理论修养，在真学真信中坚定理想信念，在学思践悟中牢记初心使命，在细照笃行中不断修炼自我，在知行合一中主动担当作为，保持对党的忠诚心、对人民的感恩心、对事业的进取心、对法纪的敬畏心，做到信念坚、政治强、本领高、作风硬。”这段话正是对共产党人“心学”之本质内容的时代化、科学化和创造性的阐释。概括而言，共产党人的“心学”关乎共产党人的初心使命、理想信念，是共产党人虔信笃行、知行合一之学，是共产党人忠诚感恩、谦卑敬畏之学，也是共产党人刀刃向内、自我革命的“内圣”之学。为把握其本质内容，我们从共产党人“心学”的关键词、马克思主义信仰的核心词及“心学”修炼的原则和方法等角度对此问题做一简要阐释。

I. Party Spirit Consciousness, Unity of Knowledge and Action: The Keywords of “Communists’ Mind-Heart Learning”

一、党性自觉、知行合一：“共产党人的‘心学’”的关键词

What exactly is the “mind-heart learning of Communists” that General Secretary Xi Jinping has emphasized? What are its basic content and significance? We believe that the mind-heart learning of Communists is the learning of the original aspiration and of faith; it is the learning of nurturing faith, forever preserving the original aspiration, following norms and fulfilling commitments, benefiting the people and achieving goals, not disgracing the mission and realizing ideals; it is the learning of Marxists’ faith for Communists. In general, it can be described as the learning of “effort” (功夫) for Communists to cultivate the character and realm of wholehearted “inner sagehood” (内圣) in the service of the “outer kingship” (外王) enterprise of serving the people. What General Secretary Xi Jinping calls “cultivating the ‘mind-heart learning of Communists’” means implementing and embodying these contents in practical form. To this end, drawing on and learning from the excellent traditional Chinese culture, especially Wang Yangming’s “mind-heart learning,” we believe that the keywords of Communists’ mind-heart learning are Party spirit consciousness and the unity of knowledge and action.

习近平总书记所强调的“共产党人的‘心学’”究竟是什么？它的基本内容和意义是什么？我们认为，共产党人的“心学”就是共产党人的初心之学、信仰之学，是培育信仰永葆初心、遵循规范践行承诺、造福人民达成目标、不辱使命实现理想之学，是共产党人的马克思主义信仰之学，总体上可谓共产党人志于为人民服务之“外王”事业而修炼全心全意之“内圣”品行境界的“功夫”之学。习近平总书记所说的“修炼共产党人的‘心学’”，就是要在实践形态上贯彻并体现这些内容。为此，参照借鉴中华优秀传统文化特别是阳明“心学”，我们认为，共产党人的“心学”的关键词就是党性自觉与知行合一。

(I) Wang Yangming’s “Mind-Heart Learning” Is the Cultural Origin of Communists’ “Mind-Heart Learning”

（一）阳明“心学”是共产党人“心学”的文化渊源

“Mind-heart learning” is a new theoretical form developed by Song and Ming dynasty Confucians, with Lu Jiuyuan of the Song dynasty and Wang Yangming of the Ming dynasty as its main representatives. Wang Yangming’s achievements were particularly outstanding. In a certain sense, it can be said that Wang Yangming’s “mind-heart learning” is the culmination of Chinese “mind-heart learning.” Throughout his life, Wang Yangming tirelessly sought the way of the sage, cautiously and reverently practicing the Confucian learning of inner sagehood cultivation, reaching an extremely high realm of life that is difficult for others to match, truly worthy of being called “establishing virtue as immortal.” Through his inner sagehood cultivation, he realized and reinterpreted Confucian classics such as *Mencius* and *The Great Learning*, discussed and refined them with his disciples, and formed classics passed down through generations such as *Instructions for Practical Living* (《传习录》), which have greatly benefited later generations, truly worthy of being called “establishing words as immortal.” With the public virtue and wisdom gained from his inner sagehood cultivation, he subdued sycophantic ministers and treacherous officials who disrupted the court order and violated laws and morality, making important contributions to maintaining the stability of the Ming dynasty, truly worthy of being called “establishing merit as immortal.” Of course, as a scholar-official of the feudal era, Wang Yangming represented the interests of the feudal rulers, and his “three immortalities” were also relative to the interests of the ruling class at that time. This so-called “three immortalities” is difficult to compare with the “immortal great undertaking” of Communists who struggle, sacrifice, write books, and establish merits for human liberation and the magnificent cause of communism. The latter is a thorough negation and fundamental transcendence of the former, representing the true “three immortalities.” However, from the perspective of the cultivation of individuals and the “key minority” elite backbone of the ruling group, his life practice of “inner sagehood and outer kingship” possesses ideological value from which today’s Communists can deeply draw lessons. It is in this sense that General Secretary Xi Jinping has mentioned on many different occasions that Wang Yangming’s “mind-heart learning” is the essence of excellent traditional Chinese culture, possessing enlightening and referential significance for promoting Party spirit cultivation and Party spirit education, and must be creatively transformed and innovatively developed, and then carried forward.

“心学”是宋明儒家发展出来的一个新的理论形态，以宋代陆九渊和明代王阳明为主要代表，王阳明成就更为卓著，在一定意义上，可以说阳明“心学”是中华“心学”的集大成者。王阳明一生孜孜以求圣贤之道，战战兢兢践行儒家内圣修养之学，达到了极高的人生境界，令人难以望其项背，堪称立德不朽；他以内圣修养体悟并重新诠释《孟子》《大学》等儒家经典，与门人弟子进行研讨、精修，形成了《传习录》等传世经典，使后人受益良多，堪称立言不朽；他以自己内圣修养得来的公德和智慧，降服扰乱朝纲、违法背德的佞人奸臣，为维护明朝的稳定作出重要贡献，堪称立功不朽。当然，王阳明作为封建时代的士大夫，他所代表的是封建统治者的利益，其“三不朽”也是相对于当时的统治阶级利益而言的。这种所谓的“三不朽”，难以与共产党人为了人类解放和共产主义壮丽事业而奋斗牺牲、著书立说、建功立业的“不朽之伟业”相媲美，后者是对前者的彻底否定和根本超越，是真正的“三不朽”。但从做人及作为执政集团的“关键少数”骨干精英的素养而言，其“内圣外王”的人生修为具有当今共产党人深可借鉴的思想价值。正是在这个意义上，习近平总书记在不同场合多次提到，阳明“心学”是中华优秀传统文化的精华，对推动党性修养、党性教育等具有启发借鉴意义，必须予以创造性转化和创新性发展，进而加以发扬光大。

(II) Party Spirit Consciousness, Unity of Knowledge and Action Are the Keywords of Communists’ “Mind-Heart Learning”

（二）党性自觉、知行合一是共产党人“心学”的关键词

As is well known, the core content of Wang Yangming’s “mind-heart learning” is “extending innate knowledge” (致良知) and “the unity of knowledge and action” (知行合一), based on the ontology and epistemology of “the mind is principle” (心即理). In layman’s terms, “extending innate knowledge” means cultivating and upholding the conscience, nurturing this deepest moral regulator that governs all one’s actions, and enhancing moral consciousness. For Communists, it means “extending Party spirit” (致党性), i.e., Party spirit consciousness: cultivating and upholding a conscious and firm Party spirit — the Party’s advanced nature, purity, class nature, revolutionary nature, etc. — nurturing and glorifying the conscience or innate knowledge deep in the heart of every Communist — the light of communist ideal and faith, the light of communist great public good and virtue — enhancing their faith consciousness, faith confidence, faith self-discipline, and faith practice. “The unity of knowledge and action” means being consistent in heart and mouth, in word and deed; being wholehearted and single-minded; concentrating strength and seeking truth from facts; rolling up sleeves and working hard, and pressing ahead with determination. It requires that once Communists have established Marxist faith, they must bravely strive for the realization of the lofty ideal of communism, overcome all difficulties with rock-solid socialist conviction to win victory, and consciously abide by Party discipline, forge strong willpower and ability for self-discipline and self-control, and truly devote themselves wholeheartedly to the great cause of serving the people. This shows that Communists’ “mind-heart learning” concerns the original aspiration and mission, ideals and beliefs of Communists; it is the learning of Communists’ devout belief, resolute practice, and the unity of knowledge and action.

众所周知，阳明“心学”的核心内容是基于“心即理”之本体论、认识论的“致良知”和“知行合一”。通俗地说，“致良知”就是修养并持守良心，养护这个调节一个人一切行为的最为深层的道德调节器，增强道德自觉；对于共产党人而言就是“致党性”亦即党性自觉，修养并护持自觉而坚定的党性——党的先进性、纯洁性、阶级性、革命性等，养护并光大处于每位共产党员内心深处的良心或良知——共产主义理想信念之光、共产主义大公善德之光，增强其信仰自觉、信仰自信、信仰自律和信仰自行。“知行合一”就是心口如一、言行一致，全心全意、一心一意，凝心聚力、求真务实，甩开膀子踏实干、撸起袖子加油干；它要求共产党人一旦确立了马克思主义信仰，就要勇于为实现共产主义远大理想而奋斗，以坚如磐石的社会主义信念排除万难争取胜利，并自觉遵守党的纪律，锻造强大的自律、自控意志和能力，真正全心全意投入到为人民服务的伟大事业之中。这表明共产党人“心学”关乎共产党人的初心使命、理想信念，是共产党人虔信笃行、知行合一之学。

II. Communists’ “Mind-Heart Learning”: The Learning of Marxist Faith

二、共产党人“心学”：马克思主义信仰之学

“Mind-heart learning” is not pure psychology, “spiritology,” or the popular chicken soup for the soul or successology found in the marketplace; rather, it is a practical learning of revering faith through the unity of knowledge and action. It focuses on developing people’s intellect, awakening their consciousness, and consolidating their mental strength, thereby achieving single-minded belief, concentration, total focus, and wholehearted devotion. This is the mental and dispositional foundation for practicing faith.

“心学”不是纯粹的心理学、“精神学”或市面上流行的心灵鸡汤、成功学等，而是知行合一尊奉信仰的践行学问，它注重开发人的心智、启发人的觉悟、凝聚人的心力，从而做到专一信念、聚精会神、全神贯注、一心一意，这是践行信仰的心性基础。

(I) Aspiring to Serve the People Is the Core and Essence of Communists’ “Mind-Heart Learning”

（一）志于为人民服务是共产党人“心学”的核心和本质

Confucianism can, in a certain sense, be summarized as the learning of “inner sage and outer king.” [5]5 “Inner sage and outer king” (内圣外王) is a classical Confucian ideal: the cultivation of inner virtue (the sage) as the foundation for effective rule in the outer world (the king). Wang Yangming (1472–1529) was a Ming-dynasty Neo-Confucian philosopher whose “School of Mind” (心学) emphasized innate moral knowledge and the unity of knowledge and action. “Mind-heart learning” (心学), as a form of Confucianism, particularly emphasizes the “learning of the inner sage.” In the view of Wang Yangming’s “mind-heart learning,” one who can cultivate to the realm of the inner sage will naturally possess high virtue and attain wisdom, and the enterprise of the outer king will follow as a matter of course. General Secretary Xi Jinping advocates carrying forward the essence of “mind-heart learning,” emphasizing the “inner sage” cultivation, refinement, and self-discipline of Communists — that is, Party spirit education and Party spirit cultivation that touches the human heart and mind; that is, turning the blade inward, seeking the cause in oneself, scraping the poison off the bone, and breaking the “thief in the heart” [6]6 “Break the thief in the heart” (破心中贼) is a phrase attributed to Wang Yangming, referring to overcoming selfish desires and moral failings within oneself, as opposed to external “bandits.”; that is, “supplementing calcium to strengthen the bones, expelling toxins to sterilize, cutting off one’s own arm to survive, removing rot to regenerate the flesh, constantly eliminating the viruses that erode the Party’s healthy body, and continuously improving one’s own immunity” [7]7 This passage is a quotation from Xi Jinping, describing the Party’s self-revolution in vivid bodily metaphors.; that is, standing upright and correct, being selfless and impartial, and being fully good for the people. Clearly, this is also an inherent part and proper meaning of the Communist self-revolution. Therefore, the “mind-heart learning” of Communists is the “inner sage” learning that advocates that Communists aspire to the “outer king.” Applying the analytical method of “inner sage and outer king,” we can understand the fundamental purpose of Communists, “serving the people wholeheartedly,” as the Communists’ “inner sage and outer king.” Here, “wholeheartedly” (全心全意) is the cultivation and realm of “inner sage” self-cultivation, that is, carrying out self-revolution; “serving the people” (为人民服务) is the specific content of the “outer king” enterprise, that is, promoting social revolution. At the same time, this also embodies the Party’s purity and advanced nature: when serving the people truly “wholeheartedly,” it is one hundred percent “pure gold” of communist faith, which is purity; and when “wholeheartedly” is truly implemented in the great enterprise of serving the people, it is the embodiment of the lofty ideal of communism, which is advanced nature. To fully achieve serving the people wholeheartedly is to achieve the Communists’ “inner sage and outer king,” which is the true purity and advanced nature of Communists, and thus truly implements the mission spirit of leading the great social revolution with the great self-revolution. “Serving the people” can be realized through the specific work positions of each Party member; it requires superb ability and penetrating wisdom. But to “wholeheartedly” exert one’s wisdom and ability to serve the people is no easy task; it is difficult to attain without the practical cultivation and verification skills of Chinese “mind-heart learning.”

儒学一定意义上可概括为“内圣外王”之学。而“心学”作为儒学的一种形态，特别强调“内圣之学”。在阳明“心学”看来，能修养到内圣境界，德性自高、智慧必达，外王事业便水到渠成。习近平总书记主张弘扬“心学”精华，就是强调共产党人的“内圣”修养、修炼和修持，即触及人的心灵的党性教育和党性修炼，就是刀刃向内、反求诸己、刮骨疗毒、破“心中贼”，就是“补钙壮骨、排毒杀菌、壮士断腕、去腐生肌，不断清除侵蚀党的健康肌体的病毒，不断提高自身免疫力”，就是立身端正、大公无私、满善为民。显然，这也是共产党人自我革命的固有内容、应有之义。因此，共产党人的“心学”是倡导共产党人志于“外王”的“内圣”之学。运用“内圣外王”的分析方法，我们可以把共产党人的根本宗旨“全心全意为人民服务”理解为共产党人的“内圣外王”。在这里，“全心全意”就是“内圣”修养的历练和境界，就是开展自我革命；“为人民服务”就是“外王”事业的具体内容，就是推动社会革命。同时，这也体现了党的纯洁性和先进性：为人民服务时真正做到“全心全意”，便是共产主义信仰的百分之百“纯金”，便是纯洁性；而将“全心全意”真正落实到为人民服务的伟大事业之中，便是共产主义远大理想的体现，便是先进性。完全做到全心全意为人民服务，也就做到了共产党人的“内圣外王”，那便是真正的共产党人的纯洁性和先进性，也就真正落实了以伟大自我革命引领伟大社会革命的使命精神。“为人民服务”可以通过每位党员所在的具体工作岗位来实现，它要求的是超强的本领和通达的智慧；而要做到“全心全意”地发挥自己的才智为人民服务并非易事，非中华“心学”实修实证功夫难以证得。

From the perspective of its theoretical nature, practical character, historical mission, and highest pursuit, the Marxist faith demands of its believers, the Communists, a requirement of the mind and nature: wholeheartedness and the unity of knowledge and action. Therefore, the “mind-heart learning” of Communists, as the learning of Marxist faith, is also the “inner sage” learning of Communists aspiring to the “outer king”; it is the learning of “wholehearted” mind-heart cultivation and Party spirit cultivation that Communists must possess in order to better serve the people; it is the learning of the Party’s self-revolution aimed at promoting social revolution. From this, one can also perceive that the “mind-heart learning” of Communists is a great learning of loyalty to and advancement of the communist cause of liberating all humanity, of gratitude and reverence for the people as the creators of history, and of humility before and absorption of historical experience and the wisdom of the people. At the same time, it is also a great learning of bravely turning the blade inward and self-revolution, in order to “wholeheartedly” achieve these things, consciously overcoming the chaotic greed and selfishness of “being half-hearted,” “being fickle and unsettled,” “looking left and right,” and “looking forward and backward.”

马克思主义信仰从其理论本性、实践特质、历史使命、最高追求来看，对其信仰者共产党人的心性要求便是全心全意、知行合一。因此，共产党人的“心学”作为马克思主义信仰之学，也是共产党人志于“外王”的“内圣”之学，是共产党人为了更好地为人民服务而必须具备的“全心全意”心性修养、党性修炼之学，是旨在推动社会革命的党的自我革命之学。由此亦可觉知，共产党人的“心学”，也是对实现全人类解放的共产主义事业的忠诚与进取、对人民作为历史创造者的感恩与敬畏、对历史经验和人民智慧的谦卑与汲取的大学问；同时也是为了“全心全意”地做到这些，而自觉克服“三心二意”“心猿意马”“左顾右盼”“瞻前顾后”之杂乱贪私等，而勇敢刀刃向内、自我革命的大学问。

(II) Purpose, Ideal, Original Aspiration, and Mission Are the Basic Content of Communists’ “Mind-Heart Learning”

（二）宗旨、理想及初心、使命是共产党人“心学”的基本内容

In a certain sense, the essence of the Party spirit of Communists is the communist faith. Party spirit is the cornerstone for Party cadres to establish themselves, establish their work, establish their words, and establish their virtue. Party spirit consciousness is the “extension of innate knowledge” (致良知) and “unity of knowledge and action” (知行合一) of “mind-heart learning” — cultivating and verifying the Communists’ “innate knowledge,” consciously establishing the Party spirit of Communists. The most fundamental among these is maintaining advanced nature — establishing the lofty ideal of communism and the rock-solid belief in socialism; upholding purity — practicing the fundamental purpose, taking a firm and correct political stand, that is, the people’s stand, unswervingly following the mass line, adhering to the people-centered life philosophy, and achieving “wholehearted” service to the people. In a certain sense, the communist ideal embodies the advanced nature, loftiness, and ideality of Party spirit; the socialist belief embodies the mass character, scientific nature, and reality of Party spirit; the people’s political stand embodies the purity, purposefulness, and subjectivity of Party spirit. “Party spirit consciousness” is to carry out Party spirit education and diligently engage in Party spirit cultivation, the purpose of which is to enable Party members to always retain the people’s innate knowledge and communist consciousness of Communists; carrying out education on ideals and beliefs and on the people’s stand (purpose), that is, strengthening faith education and practice, is the method and path for cultivating Party spirit and tempering Party spirit. “Party spirit consciousness” cannot merely remain at the cognitive level; it must be embodied in the level of behavioral practice, which is to achieve the “unity of knowledge and action.” This is the most fundamental method and path for cultivating Party spirit and practicing faith. Firming up ideals and beliefs and adhering to the spiritual pursuit of Communists have always been the foundation for Communists to establish themselves and live. Therefore, the “mind-heart learning” of Communists is, in essence, the learning of Party spirit education and Party spirit cultivation, the learning of practicing Marxist faith, the learning of cultivating and steadfastly maintaining Marxist faith, the learning of forever preserving the Party’s advanced nature and purity, and thus the learning of Communists’ foundation for establishing themselves and living.

从某种意义上说，共产党人之党性的本质就是共产主义信仰。党性是党员干部立身、立业、立言、立德的基石。党性自觉就是“心学”的“致良知”和“知行合一”——修炼并证得共产党人的“良知”，自觉确立起共产党人的党性。其中最根本的是保持先进性——确立远大的共产主义理想和坚若磐石的社会主义信念，坚守纯洁性——践行根本宗旨，站稳坚定正确的政治立场即人民立场，坚定不移地走群众路线，坚持以人民为中心的人生理念，做到“全心全意”地为人民服务。在一定意义上说，共产主义理想体现党性的先进性、崇高性和理想性，社会主义信念体现党性的大众性、科学性和现实性，人民政治立场体现党性的纯洁性、目的性和主体性。“党性自觉”就是开展党性教育、勤于党性修养，目的在于使党员始终葆有共产党人的人民良知和共产主义觉悟；开展理想信念教育和人民立场（宗旨）教育，亦即加强信仰教育和实践，就是修养党性、磨砺党性的方法路径。“党性自觉”不能单纯停留于认知层面，而必须体现于行为实践层面，那就是要做到“知行合一”，这是修养党性、践行信仰的最根本的方法路径。坚定理想信念，坚守共产党人精神追求，始终是共产党人安身立命的根本。因此，共产党人的“心学”，实质上就是党性教育和党性修养之学，就是马克思主义信仰践履之学，就是培育并恒守马克思主义信仰之学，是永葆党的先进性和纯洁性之学，也就是共产党人安身立命之学。

General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out, “All comrades in the Party must remain true to our original aspiration and keep our mission firmly in mind,” “The original aspiration and the mission of Chinese Communists is to seek happiness for the Chinese people and rejuvenation for the Chinese nation. This is the fundamental driving force that inspires Chinese Communists to advance continuously,” and “Since its founding, the Communist Party of China has made the realization of communism its highest ideal and ultimate goal, and has shouldered the historical mission of realizing the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation without hesitation.” [8]8 These are direct quotations from Xi Jinping’s report to the 19th National Congress Ideals, purposes, original aspirations, missions, beliefs, and confidence all belong to the category of faith. The “mind-heart learning” of Communists, as the learning of cultivating, casting, upholding, and practicing the communist faith, must carry out education on the communist ideal and socialist belief, education on the purpose of serving the people wholeheartedly, and education on the original aspiration and mission of seeking happiness for the people, rejuvenation for the nation, and harmony for the world, and must permeate this education into every aspect, corner, and moment of each Communist Party member’s daily life and work.

习近平总书记指出，“全党同志务必不忘初心、牢记使命”，“中国共产党人的初心和使命，就是为中国人民谋幸福，为中华民族谋复兴。这是激励中国共产党人不断前进的根本动力”，“中国共产党一经成立，就把实现共产主义作为党的最高理想和最终目标，义无反顾地肩负起实现中华民族伟大复兴的历史使命”。理想、宗旨、初心、使命、信念、信心等，都属于信仰的范畴。共产党人“心学”作为共产主义信仰的培育浇铸和持守践履之学，就必须开展共产主义理想教育、社会主义信念教育，开展全心全意为人民服务的宗旨教育，开展为人民谋幸福、为民族谋复兴、为世界谋大同的初心和使命教育，并把这种教育渗透到每个共产党员的日常生活和事业工作的方方面面、角角落落、时时刻刻。

Chinese Communists practicing their original aspiration and mission is a necessary prerequisite for realizing the lofty ideal of communism and a concrete manifestation of firming up socialist belief. Not forgetting the original aspiration of seeking happiness for the people, not disgracing the mission of seeking rejuvenation for the nation, adhering to the morality of selflessness and impartiality, practicing the commitment to serving the people, and then seeking light for humanity and great harmony for the world, realizing the ideal of communism and attaining the realm of individual freedom — this is the “mind-heart learning” of Communists. Specifically, the basic content of the Marxist faith of Chinese Communists is: adhering to the fundamental purpose, guided by the lofty ideal of communism, relying on and serving the broadest masses of the people, realizing the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation, building a new form of human civilization, and forming the influence and appeal of the socialist path, theory, system, and culture worldwide, promoting the building of a community with a shared future for mankind based on extensive consultation, joint contribution, shared benefits, and shared enjoyment. The “mind-heart learning” of Communists is to implement this content into the mind-heart nature and behavior of each Party member, making it an inexhaustible driving force for leading the people to strive for communism.

中国共产党人践行初心和使命，是实现共产主义远大理想的必备前提，也是坚定社会主义信念的实际体现。不忘为人民谋幸福的初心、不辱为民族谋复兴的使命，恪守大公无私的道德、践行服务人民的承诺，进而为人类谋光明、为世界求大同，实现共产主义的理想、达成个性自由的境界，这就是共产党人的“心学”。具体而言，中国共产党人的马克思主义信仰的基本内容就是，坚守根本宗旨，以共产主义远大理想为引领，依靠并服务最广大人民群众，实现中华民族伟大复兴，构建人类文明新形态，并在全世界形成社会主义道路、理论、制度和文化的影响力、吸引力，推动构建共商共建共赢共享的人类命运共同体。共产党人“心学”就是要把这些内容落到每位党员的心性和行为的实处，使之成为领导人民为共产主义而奋斗的不竭动力。

III. A New Realm of Chinese “Mind-Heart Learning”: The Transcendence and Sublimation of Traditional “Mind-Heart Learning” by Communists’ “Mind-Heart Learning”

三、中华“心学”新境界：共产党人“心学”对传统“心学”的超越和升华

The above discussion shows that “Communists’ ‘mind-heart learning’” has endowed traditional Chinese “mind-heart learning” with entirely new contemporary connotations on the basis of the “creative transformation and innovative development” of culture and cultural inheritance and development, inherently containing the prominent characteristics of the new-era Chinese “mind-heart learning” forged by integrating Marxism and fine traditional Chinese culture.

以上论述表明，“共产党人的‘心学’”在文化“两创”和文化传承发展的基础上，为中华传统“心学”赋予了全新的时代内涵，内在蕴含了融通马克思主义和中华优秀传统文化而铸就的新时代中华“心学”的突出特质。

(I) A Firm and Thorough Materialist Stance

（一）坚定彻底的唯物主义立场

The most prominent and essential difference between the “mind-heart learning of Communists” and traditional “mind-heart learning” lies in the fact that Communists are firm and thoroughgoing materialists. Although traditional “mind-heart learning” contains some materialist expressions, it is not firm, thoroughgoing, or universal. Some modern popular spiritual doctrines, in deep-seated issues such as worldview and epistemology, completely submit to theology. This is a concrete manifestation of the inability to establish a thoroughgoing materialist worldview, due to the lack of Marxist guidance in the exploration of key issues such as the structure of matter, the evolution of the universe, the origin of life, and the essence of consciousness, especially in the study of the essence of consciousness.

“共产党人的‘心学’”与传统“心学”的最突出也是最本质的区别，就在于共产党人是坚定彻底的唯物主义者。传统“心学”虽然也有一些唯物主义的表述，但不是坚定的、彻底的和普遍的。一些现代流行的所谓灵性学说，多在世界观、认识论等深层问题上完全归附于神学。这是在对物质结构、宇宙演化、生命起源、意识本质等关键问题的探索中，尤其是对意识本质的研究中缺乏马克思主义的指导，不可能建立起彻底唯物主义世界观的具体表现。

The core content of cultivation in “mind-heart learning” is the cognition and optimization of the mind-heart substance. From the perspective of its objective reality, the so-called “mind-heart substance” refers to the substance (essence) of consciousness. The “mind-heart learning of Communists” emphasizes the cultivation of the “mind-heart” precisely on the basis of the affirmation of its materiality. Because, without the affirmation of the materiality of consciousness, any “mind-heart learning” would only be water without a source, a tree without roots, and there would be no “mind-heart learning of Communists.” With the development of society, the progress of the times, and breakthroughs in science and technology, the exploration of the essence of consciousness has been placed before humanity without evasion. General Secretary Xi Jinping has successively raised the study of the “essence of consciousness” as a scientific issue on four occasions at major events. This is not only a new expansion of scientific definitions but also a new breakthrough in philosophical thought. It is against this backdrop that some scholars, based on materialist monism and scientific practice, have proposed the “three-level theoretical hypothesis of the structure of cosmic matter,” conducting in-depth discussions on major issues such as the structure of matter and the essence of consciousness. Although there is still much work to be done in the scientific revelation of the essence of consciousness, the practice of cultivating the “mind-heart learning of Communists” by the entire Party and society undoubtedly provides a powerful practical support of “mind-heart learning” for the study and early thorough revelation of this issue.

“心学”修炼的核心内容就是对心体的认知和优化。从其客观实在性而言，所谓“心体”就是指意识本体（本质）。共产党人的“心学”强调对“心”的修炼，正是基于对其物质性的确定。因为，如果没有对意识物质性的确定，任何“心学”都只会是无源之水、无根之木，也不会有共产党人的“心学”。随着社会的发展、时代的进步、科技的突破，对意识本质的探索已无可回避地摆在了人类面前。习近平总书记曾先后四次将“意识本质”的研究作为科学问题在一些重大场合提出。这不仅是对科学定义的新扩展，也是哲学思想的新突破。正是在这样的背景下，有学者基于唯物一元论和科学实践提出了“宇宙物质结构三层面理论假说”，对物质结构、意识本质等重大问题进行了深入探讨。尽管目前我们对意识本质的科学揭示还有很多的工作要做，但全党全社会对修炼共产党人“心学”的践行，无疑为这一问题的研究和早日彻底揭示提供了强有力的“心学”实践支撑。

(2) Distinct and Clear People-Centeredness

（二）立场鲜明的人民性

Party spirit education is the “mind-heart learning of Communists,” and the core of Party spirit is serving the people wholeheartedly. General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out: “Serving the people wholeheartedly is the fundamental starting point and落脚点 of all our Party’s actions, and it is the fundamental sign that distinguishes our Party from all other political parties. All work of the Party must take the fundamental interests of the vast majority of the people as the highest standard.” It is precisely based on this Party spirit that the “mind-heart learning of Communists” will inevitably change the literati-official attribute of traditional “mind-heart learning,” break through the tradition that for thousands of years only a few people had the opportunity to practice the skills of “mind-heart learning,” and extend the cultivation of “mind-heart learning” to the hundreds of millions of Communist Party members — they are rooted in the masses of the people and are one with them, not only benefiting the vast masses of the people but also demonstrating and leading them to follow the call of “mind-heart learning,” consciously take the socialist path, and advance in the direction of communism. Therefore, the “mind-heart learning of Communists” is essentially also a “people’s ‘mind-heart learning.’” Why could traditional “mind-heart learning” not become a “people’s ‘mind-heart learning’”? An important reason is the lack of guidance from Marxist theory and the absence of the lofty belief in communism. Thus, although traditional “mind-heart learning” “played a positive role in molding the excellent character and noble sentiments of the Chinese nation, it failed to change the social status of the broad masses of working people who were oppressed and exploited.” History shows that only under the guidance of Marxism and with the existence of an organization like the Communist Party of China can a “people’s ‘mind-heart learning’” that serves the freedom and happiness of the people be formed.

党性教育是共产党人的“心学”，而党性的核心就是全心全意为人民服务。习近平总书记指出：“全心全意为人民服务，是我们党一切行动的根本出发点和落脚点，是我们党区别于其他一切政党的根本标志。党的一切工作，必须以最广大人民根本利益为最高标准。”正是基于这样的党性，共产党人的“心学”必然会改变传统“心学”的士大夫属性，突破数千年来只有少数人有机会修习“心学”功夫的传统，将“心学”修养扩展到亿万共产党员群体——他们植根于人民群众并与人民群众打成一片，不仅造福广大人民群众，而且也示范和引领广大人民群众跟从“心学”召唤，自觉走上社会主义道路、沿着共产主义方向前进。因此，共产党人的“心学”本质上也是“人民‘心学’”。传统“心学”为什么不可能成为“人民‘心学’”？一个重要的原因，就是没有马克思主义理论指导，缺乏共产主义崇高信仰。这样，传统“心学”尽管“对陶铸中华民族的优秀品格、高尚情操起着积极推动作用，但未能改变广大劳动民众被压迫、被剥削的社会地位”。历史表明，只有在马克思主义的指导下，有中国共产党这样一个组织存在，才能形成服务于人民自由幸福的“人民‘心学’”。

This people-centeredness of the “mind-heart learning of Communists” not only has theoretical certainty based on Party spirit but also has strong organizational guarantees. According to the latest statistics from the Organization Department of the Party Central Committee, as of the end of 2023, the total number of CPC members was 99.185 million, with 5.176 million primary-level organizations. In this regard, some scholars have pointed out that, based on such a huge number of Party members and organizations, “Party spirit education will inevitably be popularized among the masses of the people nationwide, and the cultivation of mind-heart learning will inevitably enter the ideological construction of the people. The traditional literati-official mind-heart learning of ‘the scholar aspires to be a worthy, the worthy aspires to be a sage’ will become the mind-heart learning of hundreds of millions of people of the Chinese nation under the leadership of the Communist Party of China… This marks a new milestone for Chinese mind-heart learning.”

共产党人“心学”的这种人民性不仅有基于党性的理论确定性，而且有坚强的组织保障。中央组织部最新统计数据显示，截至2023年年底，中国共产党党员总数为9918.5万名，基层组织517.6万个。对此，有学者指出，基于如此庞大的党员和组织数量，“党性教育必然将普及到全国人民大众中，心学的修养也必然随之进入民众的思想建设中。传统的‘士希贤、贤希圣’的士大夫心学，将成为在中国共产党领导下的中华民族亿万民众的心学……这标志着中华心学进入了新的里程”。

(3) The Social Practicality of Actual Cultivation and Seeking Truth

（三）实修求实的社会实践性

In the cultivation methods of traditional “mind-heart learning,” whether it is the Confucian “nourishing the source, quiet cultivation to realize the mind-heart substance” or the Chan Buddhist “gong’an meditation, single-minded meditation, mind-contemplation meditation,” etc., they all have a tendency toward seclusion from the world, mystification, and individualization. At the same time, influenced by some biased spiritual quietist concepts in recent years, modern people have two major misunderstandings about “mind-heart learning”: first, understanding the cultivation of “mind-heart learning” as an expression of ordinary ideological and moral requirements; second, understanding the process of realization in “mind-heart learning” as a process of pursuing quietness and detachment from the world, of silent emptiness. This can be seen from the fact that some urban youths retreat to the countryside early, pursuing a so-called low-desire primitive lifestyle. In fact, Chinese “mind-heart learning” has always had a distinct social practicality; the process of realization in “mind-heart learning” has always been regarded as a skill of actual cultivation and actual verification, not merely ordinary ideological and moral requirements or knowledge learning; the achievement of realization in “mind-heart learning” is not the result of silent emptiness, but “the result of the vigorous vitality of the mind-heart substance.”

在传统“心学”的修炼方法中，不论是儒家的“涵养本源、静修证悟心体”，还是禅宗的“参话禅、意念归一禅、观心禅”等，多少都带有避世清修和神秘化、个人化的倾向。同时，受近年来一些偏执的灵性静修理念的影响，现代人对“心学”多有两大误解：一是将“心学”修养理解为一种普通的思想道德要求的表达，二是将“心学”证悟的过程理解为追求清静出世、寂守空无的过程。这从一些都市青年早早就退居乡野，追求所谓低欲望的原生态生活就可见一斑。而事实上，中华“心学”始终都具有鲜明的社会实践性，“心学”证悟的过程历来被认为是实修实证之功夫，而非仅是普通的思想道德要求或知识学习；“心学”证悟成果之获得，亦非寂守空无的结果，而是“心体生机勃发所致”。

The Communist Party of China grew and strengthened in the midst of magnificent revolutionary struggles, which is precisely a manifestation of its vigorous vitality. The “mind-heart learning of Communists” not only continues and inherits the individual practicality of traditional “mind-heart learning” but also extends it to the entire great socialist and communist revolutionary practice. As General Secretary Xi Jinping said: “We must adhere to the unity of knowledge and action, focus on learning true knowledge and understanding the true essence in practice, strengthen tempering, and increase ability,” and “only by integrating one’s small self into the great self of the motherland and the great self of the people, keeping pace with the times and sharing the destiny with the people, can one better realize the value of life and elevate the realm of life.” The well-known saying of Marx, “Man can only achieve perfection by working for the perfection and happiness of his contemporaries,” is also a brilliant interpretation of the emphasis on social practicality in the “mind-heart learning of Communists.” From the perspective of the process of cultivation and realization in “mind-heart learning,” the cultivation of traditional “mind-heart learning,” “although rich in content, in essence, is only the work of the two aspects of substance and function.” Clearly, the “mind-heart learning of Communists” emphasizes the cultivation path of “respecting the substance to realize the function” and “following the function to reach the substance,” which is more suitable for the practice of the broad masses, further reflecting its firm people-centered stance.

中国共产党是在波澜壮阔的革命斗争中成长和壮大起来的，这正是其具有蓬勃生命力的表现。共产党人的“心学”不仅延续和继承了传统“心学”的个人实践性，而且将其扩展到了整个伟大的社会主义、共产主义革命实践中。正如习近平总书记所说：“要坚持知行合一，注重在实践中学真知、悟真谛，加强磨炼、增长本领”，“只有把自己的小我融入祖国的大我、人民的大我之中，与时代同步伐、与人民共命运，才能更好实现人生价值、升华人生境界”。人们熟知的那段马克思的名言，“人只有为同时代人的完美、为他们的幸福而工作，自己才能达到完美”，同样是对共产党人“心学”强调社会实践性的精彩诠释。从“心学”修炼证悟的历程来看，传统“心学”修养“虽然内容繁多，究其实，只是体、用两面之功”。显然，共产党人的“心学”强调了更适合广大民众实践的“尊体而致用”“循用以达体”的“心学”修炼路径，这又进一步体现了其以人民为中心的坚定立场。

(4) The Thoroughness of Heroic and Decisive Self-Revolution

（四）英勇果断的自我革命的彻底性

“Self-revolution” should not be understood in a vulgar sense, not as simple movements and struggles, but as the Party’s continuous metabolism and self-sublation in order to maintain its advanced nature and purity, thereby achieving forward development and becoming better. For a long time, traditional “mind-heart learning” has had an obsession with “returning to the original state,” following a closed-loop path. For example, traditional “mind-heart learning” holds that the mind-heart substance is uncreated and indestructible, neither increasing nor decreasing, neither defiled nor pure, and the purpose of cultivation in “mind-heart learning” is to “return” to this natural attribute of the mind-heart substance. In this regard, some scholars have clearly pointed out: “This argument is difficult to establish. Modern archaeology has recognized that there were no upright apes five or six million years ago, let alone humans. It is impossible to say that the pure mind of true suchness is eternal and uncreated and indestructible.” The difficulty of traditional “mind-heart learning” in breaking through the closed-loop development model is actually compatible with the social reality of the dynastic cycles of successive feudal dynasties, which ultimately failed to escape the historical cycle of order and chaos, rise and fall. Guided by Marxist dialectical historical materialism, the “mind-heart learning of Communists” naturally cannot follow the old closed-loop path of traditional “mind-heart learning”; it can only take a spiraling upward development path through continuous self-revolution.

“自我革命”不能作一种庸俗化的理解，不是指简单的运动和斗争，而是指我们党为了保持其先进性和纯洁性而不断进行新陈代谢、自我扬弃，从而实现向前发展，变得更好。长期以来，传统“心学”一直有种“回归初始状态”的执念，走的是封闭循环的道路。比如，传统“心学”认为，心体是不生不灭、不增不减、不垢不净的，“心学”修炼的目的就是要“回归”到心体的这种自然属性。对此，有学者明确指出：“这一论点是难以成立的。现代考古学已认识到，五六百万年以前尚无直立之古猿，也就更不会有人，说真如藏清净心是亘古长存、不生不灭是不可能的。”传统“心学”难以突破封闭循环的发展模式，实际上是与历代封建王朝更迭，但终未走出治乱兴衰的历史周期率的社会现实相适应的。基于马克思主义辩证的唯物史观的指导，共产党人的“心学”自然不可能走传统“心学”封闭循环的老路，而只会在不断自我革命中，走出一条螺旋式上升的发展之路。

The core content of the cultivation of "mind-heart learning" (心学) is "seeking inwardly in one's own mind-heart" (内求自心) and "sublimation of the mind-heart substance" (心体升华), and the two are internally a unified whole. "Seeking inwardly in one's own mind-heart" means knowing one's own mind-heart; "sublimation of the mind-heart substance" is the purification, cleansing and strengthening of the substance itself. As a Marxist political party, cultivating the "mind-heart learning" of Communists, achieving self-purification, self-improvement, self-renewal and self-enhancement, is precisely the main content and form of the self-revolution of Communists. Moreover, this cultivation is not accomplished once and for all; it is a long-term, lifelong process of continuous optimization and sublimation. This process of self-revolution is extremely arduous, requiring the historical wisdom, political courage and moral perseverance of Communists, requiring the resolute generation of public-mindedness and elimination of selfishness, the increase of the people's well-being and the reduction of corruption, the courageous cleansing of the filth of the mind-heart and the overcoming of the bad habits of greed, anger, ignorance and arrogance — that is, what General Secretary Xi Jinping calls

“心学”修炼的核心内容就是“内求自心”和“心体升华”，且内在是统一的整体。“内求自心”就是要自知自心，“心体升华”则是本体的纯化、净化和强化。作为马克思主义政党，修炼共产党人的“心学”，实现自我净化、自我完善、自我革新、自我提高，正是共产党人自我革命最主要的内容和形式，而且这种修炼不是一劳永逸的，是长期的、终其一生的，是不断优化、升华的过程。这个自我革命的过程是极为艰辛的，需要共产党人的历史智慧、政治勇气和道德毅力，需要果断地生公心灭私心、增民福减腐败，英勇地清除心灵污垢、克除贪嗔痴慢恶习，即习近平总书记所说的“常掸心灵灰尘，常清思想垃圾，常掏灵魂旮旯”，这是共产党人“内圣”修养的核心功夫。

(5) The Value Orientation of Communism

（五）共产主义的价值导向性

General Secretary Xi Jinping has pointed out: "I often say that we must cultivate the 'mind cultivation' of Communists... one important purpose of this is to require Party cadres and members to firm up their ideals and convictions and strengthen their Party spirit." Why is firming up ideals and convictions and strengthening Party spirit so important? Because this is the core and key of the "mind cultivation" practice of Communists. The greatest difference between human beings as living organisms and other living things lies in the fact that all of human life activities are completed under the guidance of consciousness (the mind), and conviction is precisely one of the deepest components of consciousness that influences our life activities.

习近平总书记指出：“我常说要修炼共产党人的‘心学’……其中一个重要目的就是要求党员干部坚定理想信念、增强党性。”为什么坚定理想信念、增强党性如此重要？因为这是共产党人“心学”修炼的核心和关键。人这个生命体与其他生物体的最大区别就在于，人的所有生命活动都是在意识（心）的主导下完成的，而信念正是影响我们生命活动最深层的意识成分之一。

Traditional Chinese "mind cultivation" also emphasizes the important role of conviction, but the Communist "mind cultivation" understands conviction differently from this. The conviction of traditional "mind cultivation" is often influenced and limited by the reality of religion or a society based on private ownership, and cannot reach the height of the free liberation of all humanity. In contrast, the "mind cultivation" of Communists takes the realization of the freedom and happiness of a community with a shared future for mankind, that is, the free and comprehensive development of every individual in communist society, as its ideal and conviction. This kind of conviction is incomparable to the ideal and conviction of a few scholar-officials in traditional "mind cultivation" cultivating themselves to become sages and worthies, or some religious people becoming Buddhas or immortals. "'The root lies in the human heart; with inner purification and lofty aspirations, the power is infinite.'" This is the unique charm of the Communist "mind cultivation" as the "people's 'mind cultivation'" of the New Era.

中华传统“心学”修炼同样强调信念的重要作用，但共产党人“心学”对信念的理解与此不同。传统“心学”的信念往往受到宗教或私有制社会现实的影响和局限，无法触及整个人类自由解放的高度。而共产党人的“心学”是以实现人类命运共同体的自由幸福即共产主义社会每个人的自由全面发展为理想信念的，这种信念是传统“心学”少数士大夫个人修圣修贤，或者一些宗教人士成佛成仙的理想信念无法相提并论的。“‘本’在人心，内心净化、志向高远便力量无穷。”这就是共产党人的“心学”作为新时代的“人民‘心学’”所具有的独特魅力。

IV. Practicing the Communist "Mind Cultivation": Integrating Learning, Thinking, and Application; Uniting Knowledge, Conviction, and Action

四、践行共产党人“心学”：学思用贯通、知信行合一

Based on the unique characteristics of the Communist "mind cultivation," inheriting and transcending the cultivation methods of traditional "mind cultivation," General Secretary Xi Jinping has proposed that to cultivate the Communist "mind cultivation," one must adhere to the scientific methodology of "integrating learning, thinking, and application; uniting knowledge, conviction, and action," thereby achieving the purpose and effect of understanding principles, strengthening conviction, esteeming virtue, and practicing with effort. Here, we mainly take the study and education of Party history as an example to elaborate on the mechanism of studying and practicing "mind cultivation" for Party spirit cultivation.

基于共产党人“心学”的独有特质，传承并超越传统“心学”的修炼方式，习近平总书记提出修炼共产党人的“心学”，必须“坚持学思用贯通、知信行合一”的科学方法论，从而达到明理、增信、崇德、力行的目的与效果。这里主要以党史学习教育为例来阐述党性修炼的“心学”研习践行机理。

(1) The Study of "Mind Cultivation" for Party Spirit Cultivation Must Strengthen the Combination of Learning and Thinking

（一）党性修炼的“心学”研习要强化学思结合

Mere learning can only provide an understanding of some facts and phenomena, and some knowledge and information, but the meaning and spirit behind them can only be grasped through rational thought. Over the past century, the Communist Party of China has weathered storms and encountered numerous setbacks; countless martyrs and heroes, numerous meetings and events, immense costs and achievements—all of these can be presented in the form of knowledge, becoming the historical memory of national development and the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation, and of course, they must be remembered. But this is far from enough. Behind each symbol of knowledge lie the ideals and convictions, revolutionary will, tenacity, and fearless sacrifice of Chinese Communists; they are the practical creation, theoretical innovation, and moral wisdom of the Party as it hacked its way through thorns and broke through waves to advance. And this can only be discovered and comprehended through rational thought. As Comrade Mao Zedong said: "Only what is understood can be more deeply felt." To perceive Party history more deeply, dialectical and historical rational thought is indispensable. At the same time, however, we must guard against an unhealthy tendency, which is to believe that the study and education of Party history relies mainly on thinking and comprehension, without the need to understand the knowledge of Party history. It must be understood that, divorced from the practical process of Party history, from the vivid figures and events, it is impossible to grasp the true essence of Party history. Based on empty and abstract knowledge of Party history, what can one think about or become conscious of? General Secretary Xi Jinping said: "The one hundred years of our Party are a century of steadfastly practicing its original aspiration and founding mission, a century of blazing a trail and laying a foundation to establish an undertaking, a century of creating brilliance and opening up the future." "The century-long history of our Party is a history of practicing the Party's original aspiration and founding mission, a history of the Party sharing the same heart, breathing the same breath, and sharing the same fate with the people." "The century-long history of the Party is also a history of our Party continuously maintaining its advanced nature and purity, and continuously guarding against the danger of being disintegrated or corrupted." If learning and thinking are not combined, it is impossible to comprehend the profound meaning of these words, and it is difficult to grasp the nature and positioning of the Party's century-long history. For another example, if we place the history of the CPC within the broader and more distant perspective of the "Four Histories"[n], modern world history, the history of Chinese civilization, and the history of the international communist movement for study and reflection, we will discover that socialism with Chinese characteristics has emerged from the history of the more than 5,000 years of ancient Chinese civilization; it has emerged from the history of more than 500 years of world socialist thought and movements since Thomas More published *Utopia* in 1516; it has emerged from the history of more than 180 years of struggle, exploration, and the pursuit and realization of dreams by the Chinese nation since the Opium War in 1840; it has emerged from the history of more than 170 years of the international communist movement since Marx and Engels published the *Communist Manifesto* in 1848; it has emerged from the history of more than 100 years of world socialist practice initiated by the October Revolution in 1917; it has emerged from the history of more than 100 years since the founding of the Communist Party of China in 1921, a history of epoch-making events, overcoming difficulties, and repeatedly creating brilliance; it has emerged from the more than 70 years of arduous struggle and exploration of Chinese-path modernization since the founding of the People's Republic of China in 1949, transforming heaven and earth; and it has especially emerged from the history of more than 40 years of socialist reform and opening up, which began with the Third Plenary Session of the 11th Central Committee of the Party in 1978, transforming the world, and unremittingly striving for the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation. By studying and reflecting on the history of the CPC with this broad historical perspective, one can understand the historical inevitability and rich civilizational foundation of the continuous success of the great cause of socialism with Chinese characteristics, and comprehend how hard-won it is.

单纯的学只能了解一些事实和现象，知道一些知识和信息，但其背后的意义和精神，则需要通过理性思考才能把握。百年来，中国共产党历经风雨、屡遭坎坷，多少先烈、英雄，多少会议、事件，多少代价、成就，这些都可以知识的形态呈现出来，成为国家发展和民族复兴的历史记忆，当然是必须牢记的。但这远远不够。一个个知识符号的背后是中国共产党人的理想信念、革命斗志、坚韧不拔和无畏牺牲，是党的披荆斩棘、破浪前进的实践创造、理论创新和道德智慧，而这只有通过理性思考才能发现和领悟。正如毛泽东同志所说：“只有理解了的东西才能更深刻地感觉它。”要更深刻地感知党史，就离不开辩证的、历史的理性思考。但与此同时，也要防止一种不良倾向，即认为党史学习教育主要靠思考和领悟，而无需了解党史知识。要知道，离开党史的实践过程，离开一个个生动的人物和事件，便无法把握党史的真髓。基于空洞抽象的党史知识，又能思考什么、觉悟什么呢？习近平总书记说：“我们党的一百年，是矢志践行初心使命的一百年，是筚路蓝缕奠基立业的一百年，是创造辉煌开辟未来的一百年。”“我们党的百年历史，就是一部践行党的初心使命的历史，就是一部党与人民心连心，同呼吸、共命运的历史。”“党的百年历史，也是我们党不断保持党的先进性和纯洁性，不断防范被瓦解、被腐化的危险的历史。”如果不能学思结合，就不可能领悟这些话的深刻含义，党的百年历史的性质和定位就难以把握。再如，把中共党史放在“四史”乃至世界近现代史、中华文明史、国际共产主义运动史这一更加悠远而广阔的视野中去学习和思考，就会发现，中国特色社会主义是从中华民族5000多年悠久文明的历史中走出来的，是从1516年莫尔发表《乌托邦》以来世界社会主义500多年思想和运动的历史中走出来的，是从 1840年鸦片战争以来中华民族180多年抗争探索、追梦圆梦的历史中走出来的，是从1848年马克思恩格斯发表《共产党宣言》以来170多年国际共产主义运动的历史中走出来的，是从 1917年十月革命开创的世界社会主义实践以来100多年的历史中走出来的，是从1921年中国共产党成立以来100多年开天辟地、攻坚克难、屡创辉煌的历史中走出来的，是从1949年中华人民共和国成立70多年来战天斗地、探索中国式现代化的艰辛探索和伟大创造中走出来的，更是从1978年党的十一届三中全会开创的社会主义改革开放改天换地40多年为实现中华民族伟大复兴而不懈奋斗的历史中走出来的。以这种宽阔的历史视野学思中共党史，便可理解中国特色社会主义伟大事业不断取得成功的历史必然性和丰厚的文明底蕴，领悟它的来之不易。

Party history belongs to a relatively concrete field of knowledge, but as long as one grasps the basic positions, viewpoints, and methods of historical materialism, combining learning and thinking is not difficult. However, for the classic works of Marxism and its sinicized theories, "reading the original texts and comprehending the original principles" is more difficult. Lacking the historical and cultural background knowledge of the classic works, it is hard to comprehend the relationship between the specific conclusions in the original texts and the basic principles, especially the worldview and methodology, that support them as the foundation. For this reason, we must take "comprehending the original principles," that is, understanding, grasping, and realizing the positions, viewpoints, and methods within them, especially the ideals and convictions, moral norms, and value pursuits, as the direct purpose of reading the original texts, rather than formalistically completing the task of "reading for the sake of reading." Therefore, the combination of learning and thinking is the first step in carrying out the study of the Communist "mind cultivation" and the cultivation of Party spirit, and it must be done solidly and thoroughly.

党史属于较为具象化的学问，但只要掌握了唯物史观的基本立场观点和方法，做到学思结合并不难。而对于马克思主义及其中国化理论的经典著作，要“读原著、悟原理”难度就会更大些，缺乏经典论著的历史文化背景知识，难以领悟到原著中的具体结论与其背后作为支撑的基本原理特别是世界观方法论的关系。为此，我们要把“悟原理”，即理解、领会、体悟其中的立场观点和方法，特别是其中的理想信念、道德规范、价值追求等，作为读原著的直接目的，而不是形式主义地完成任务“为读而读”。因此，学思结合是开展共产党人“心学”研习、党性修炼的第一步，必须扎扎实实。

(2) The Study of "Mind Cultivation" for Party Spirit Cultivation Must Focus on the Integration of Thinking and Application

（二）党性修炼的“心学”研习要着力思用贯通

What is commonly called “learning for application” actually means that after rational reflection and processing, what one has learned is transformed into inner ability and accomplishment, and then applied to life and work. The same applies to studying Party history: through reflection, one grasps the deeper soul-like elements behind the knowledge of Party history, internalizing them into the ideals, convictions, moral qualities, and spiritual motivation of Communists, thereby embodying them in one’s own life, work, and cause. Reflection followed by application, and deepening reflection and elevating one’s realm through action—this is the dialectical logic of learning, thinking, and practicing. General Secretary Xi Jinping says that studying Party history requires constant renewal and continuous comprehension; this means transcending a purely knowledge-level understanding of the century-long Party history and penetrating into the “Way of Communists” (共产党人之道) that Party history carries—communist faith and the original aspiration of seeking happiness for the people and the mission of seeking rejuvenation for the nation, including the noble morality and lofty character of countless martyrs, heroes, and role models, and the immortal spiritual genealogy and monument of faith formed by Chinese Communists, especially a profound comprehension of the deep background, theoretical logic, and strategic deployment of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era. And this “Great Way” is not an abstract concept; it exists vividly in our daily life and ordinary work, in our powers and responsibilities, in our norms and goals. Therefore, taking the study of Party history as a foundation, through reflecting on the basic spirit of Party history, comprehending the great Way and soul of Party history, inheriting the Party’s spiritual genealogy, upholding the great virtue of Communists, and embodying and realizing it in one’s own practice, using the “golden key” of the Marxist worldview and methodology to solve reform and development problems and advance the cause, placing the people at the highest position in one’s heart, earnestly doing practical things for the people and seeking their well-being, putting the work of benefiting the people at the center, and truly opening new chapters and creating brilliance for one’s work.

通常所说的学以致用，实际是说将学到的东西经过理性的思考加工之后而转化为内在的能力和素养，并应用到生活和工作之中。学习党史也是如此，通过思考领悟到党史知识背后更为深层的灵魂性的东西，将其内化为共产党人的理想信念、道德品质和精神动力，从而体现在自己的生活、工作和事业之中。思考而后应用，并在行动中深化思考、升华境界，这是学思和力行的辩证逻辑。习近平总书记说学党史要常学常新、不断感悟，就是要超越单纯从知识层面理解百年党史，而深入到党史所承载的“共产党人之道”——共产主义信仰及为人民谋幸福的初心和为民族谋复兴的使命，包括无数先烈、英雄和楷模的高尚道德、崇高人格，以及由此形成的中国共产党人不朽的精神谱系和信仰丰碑，特别是深刻领悟习近平新时代中国特色社会主义思想的深刻背景、理论逻辑和战略部署。而此“大道”又不是抽象的概念，它鲜活地存在于我们的日常生活、平凡工作之中，存在于我们的职权和责任之中，存在于我们的规范和目标之中。因此，以学习党史为基础，通过思考党史的基本精神，领悟党史的大道灵魂，传承党的精神谱系，崇尚共产党人伟大品德，并体现和实现于自己的实践之中，运用马克思主义世界观方法论这把“金钥匙”解决改革发展问题、推动事业进步，把人民放在心中最高位置，切实为人民办实事、谋福祉，把造福人民的工作摆到中心位置，切实为工作开新局、铸辉煌。

Through the combination of learning and reflection, one comprehends the basic principles of Marxism, especially ideals and convictions, value pursuits, moral norms, and the dialectical thinking method of historical materialism, etc. These must be concretized in light of reality, so that they produce applicable effects in one’s own practice. This requires linking theory with practice, maintaining close ties with the masses, and applying the knowledge learned, the principles comprehended, the wisdom increased, and the virtue enhanced to one’s own work and life practice. Through the effects of practice, one strengthens the personal perception of the spiritual bloodline of Communists, fortifies confidence in the scientific nature and people-centeredness of Marxism, and reinforces faith in socialism and communism. This is very applicable to Confucius’s saying, “Learning without thinking leads to confusion; thinking without learning leads to peril” (The Analects, “Wei Zheng”); comprehending without applying is meaningless, and applying without thinking and comprehending will ultimately lead to setbacks or failure.

通过学思结合而领悟到马克思主义的基本原理，特别是理想信念、价值追求、道德规范以及唯物史观的辩证思维方法等，必须结合实际加以具体化，使之在自己的实践中产生适用效应。这就要求做到理论联系实际、密切联系群众，将学习到的知识、领悟到的道理、增长了的智慧、提高了的德性应用到自己的工作和生活实践中，通过实践的效果来增强对共产党人精神血脉的切身感知，坚定对马克思主义科学性、人民性的信心，强化对社会主义和共产主义的信念。这很适用孔子所说的“学而不思则罔，思而不学则殆”（《论语·为政》），领悟到了而不运用就没什么意义，或者运用了而不思考和领悟，最终也会遭遇挫折或失败。

(3) The “mind-heart learning” (心学) cultivation of Party spirit should highlight the transformation from knowledge to faith

（三）党性修养的“心学”研习要突出知信转化

The transformation from knowledge to faith means converting knowledge into belief. Learning the knowledge of Party history is only a means and a process; it carries the Way of Communists. If one only masters some knowledge of Party history but cannot identify with the Party’s philosophical concepts and political faith, it has no substantive meaning. Through learning and then reflecting, one achieves the goal of “understanding principles through history study” (学史明理). Here, “understanding” (明) is the “understanding” of “manifesting bright virtue” (明明德); it means clarifying and comprehending the basic theories and specific principles of the Chinese Communist Party on two levels: first, deeply grasping our Party’s basic theories, namely Marxism-Leninism, Mao Zedong Thought, and the system of theories of socialism with Chinese characteristics, especially Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era. This is not only the theoretical basis of our Party’s century-long history but also the theoretical reflection of our Party’s century-long practice; it must be clarified and understood. Second, deeply grasping what makes our Party distinctive, namely, from the Party’s glorious achievements, arduous course, historical experience, and fine traditions, one must deeply understand the principles that red political power was hard-won, that New China was hard-won, and that socialism with Chinese characteristics was hard-won; one must think through the academic logic of why the Chinese Communist Party can succeed, why Marxism works, and why socialism with Chinese characteristics is good; and one must clarify the historical logic, theoretical logic, and practical logic among them. The principles of the second level, as “application” (用), are contained within the basic theoretical logic (i.e., the “substance” (体)) of the first level; they are the concretization of the first-level theory in historical practice, the application of the substance. Thus, this is the unity of substance and application, the贯通 (penetration) of substance and application. Having clarified and understood these principles, one can naturally “increase faith” (增信) on these two levels—continuously strengthening faith in Marxism, belief in socialism and communism, and confidence in realizing the Chinese Dream of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation. This is the first level of “increasing faith,” the “substance” of increasing faith. The second level is strengthening the Four Confidences—confidence in the path, theory, system, and culture of socialism with Chinese characteristics. This is the “application” of increasing faith. These two levels, substance and application in unity, substance and application penetrating each other, indicate that our faith is scientific, with profound theoretical foundations and scientific theoretical logic. From “understanding principles” to “increasing faith” is precisely the transformation from knowledge to faith, from substance to application. This is the methodological principle we must uphold in the study and education of Party history.

知信转化就是要把知识转化为信仰。学习党史知识只是手段和过程，它承载的是共产党人之道。如果只是掌握了一些党史知识，却无法认同党的哲学理念和政治信仰，那就没有实质意义。通过学而思达到“学史明理”的目的，这里的“明”是“明明德”之“明”，就是在两个层面上弄清楚、想明白中国共产党的基本理论和具体道理：一是深刻把握我们党的基本理论，即马克思列宁主义、毛泽东思想和中国特色社会主义理论体系，特别是习近平新时代中国特色社会主义思想，这不仅是我们党百年历史的理论依据，也是我们党百年实践的理论反映，必须弄清楚想明白；二是深刻把握我们党的与众不同，即要从党的辉煌成就、艰辛历程、历史经验和优良传统中深刻认识红色政权来之不易、新中国来之不易、中国特色社会主义来之不易的道理，思考清楚中国共产党为什么能、马克思主义为什么行、中国特色社会主义为什么好的学理，弄清楚其中的历史逻辑、理论逻辑、实践逻辑等哲理。第二个层面的道理，作为“用”蕴含在第一个层面的基本理论逻辑（即“体”）之中，是第一个层面理论在历史实践中的具体化，是体之用，因而这是即体即用、体用贯通的。弄清楚想明白了这些道理，自然就能在这两个层面“增信”——不断增强对马克思主义的信仰、对社会主义和共产主义的信念，以及对实现中华民族伟大复兴中国梦的信心，这是“增信”的第一个层面，为增信之“体”。第二个层面就是增强“四个自信”，即对中国特色社会主义道路、理论、制度和文化的自信，此为增信之“用”。这两个层面即体即用、体用贯通，表明我们的信仰是科学的，有着深厚的理论依据、科学的理论逻辑。从“明理”到“增信”，恰恰是由知识到信仰、由体到用的转化，这是我们在党史学习教育中必须坚持的方法论原则。

Correspondingly, the classic works of Marxism are vast and numerous, and Marxist theoretical knowledge is extensive and profound. Reading original works and comprehending principles to obtain true knowledge of Marxism is certainly important, but one must never forget that Marxism is essentially not knowledge; its classic works are merely the knowledge carriers of communist faith. Therefore, in studying Marxism and studying the “mind-heart learning” of Communists, if one cannot transform the knowledge learned into faith, especially belief and confidence, then it cannot yet play a substantive role in the life, work, and practice of the learner. Hence, as a cultivation of Party spirit, studying the “mind-heart learning” of Communists must transform relevant Marxist knowledge into faith; otherwise, phenomena such as corruption, “double-faced people” (两面人), [11]11 “Double-faced people” (两面人) refers to Party members or officials who publicly profess loyalty to the Party and its principles while secretly engaging in corrupt or anti-Party activities. and “conspirators” who betray faith and the Party organization will appear.

与此相应，马克思主义经典著作浩若烟海，马克思主义理论知识博大精深。读原著悟原理获取马克思主义之真知固然重要，但一定不能忘记，马克思主义本质上不是知识，其经典著作不过是共产主义信仰的知识载体。因此，学习马克思主义、研习共产党人“心学”，如果不能将学到的知识转化为信仰，特别是信念和信心，那就还不能对研习者的人生及其工作生活实践发挥实质性作用。所以，作为党性修养，研习共产党人的“心学”，必须将马克思主义相关知识转化为信仰，否则就会出现贪污腐化、“两面人”、“阴谋家”等背离信仰、背叛党组织的现象。

(4) The “mind-heart learning” cultivation of Party spirit should vigorously promote the unity of faith and action

（四）党性修炼的“心学”研习要力推信行合一

With faith in the heart, one can go far. Generally speaking, what a person believes is not determined by what they claim, but by what they pursue and realize in practice. Therefore, in terms of the essence of faith, there is no problem of “faith” and “action” being disconnected. However, in actual life, the separation and even contradiction between knowledge and action still often exist. Phenomena such as political “double-faced people” and spiritual “personality split” deserve our high vigilance in Party history study and Party spirit education. If one does not take the lead in action, others will not believe; if one is not exemplary, others will not follow. The aforementioned “three faiths” [12]12 The “three faiths” (三信) refer to faith in Marxism, belief in socialism and communism, and confidence in realizing the Chinese Dream of national rejuvenation. and “four faiths” [13]13 The “four faiths” (四信) is an alternative reference to the Four Confidences (四个自信): confidence in the path, theory, system, and culture of socialism with Chinese characteristics. still belong to the category of “knowledge.” The transformation from faith to action still requires a faith as firm as a rock, an unwavering determination, and the practice of overcoming difficulties and benefiting the people to be realized. To this end, our Party history study and Party spirit education must focus on the unity of knowledge, faith, and action, especially on the action of transforming the “three faiths” and “four faiths” into “doing practical things” for the people’s happiness by practicing the original aspiration, “opening new chapters” for the nation’s rejuvenation by undertaking the mission, and “making contributions” to the great harmony of the world by fulfilling responsibilities. The essence of Chinese “mind-heart learning” is “the unity of knowledge and action” (知行合一). The “mind-heart learning” of Communists continues the bloodline of Chinese “mind-heart learning.” Not only does the Party as a large organization practice what it preaches, unify theory and practice, and align faith and action, but every Party member, as a inheritor and promoter of fine traditional Chinese culture and as a believer and practitioner of Marxism, must take as important criteria for their work and undertakings whether they stand on the people’s side, whether they help solve the masses’ difficulties, and whether they are conducive to enhancing the people’s well-being when thinking about problems, making decisions, and handling affairs. They must also demonstrate in practice and action the image of a Communist full of confidence, vigor, unremitting struggle, and selfless dedication.

心有所信，方能致远。一般来说，一个人信仰什么，不在于他声称什么，而在于他在实践中追求什么、实现什么。因此，就信仰的实质而言，不存在“信”“行”脱节问题，但实际生活中，知行分裂乃至背反的情况还时常存在，政治上的“两面人”、精神上的“人格分裂”现象就值得我们在党史学习和党性教育中高度警惕。身不先则不信，人不率则不从。前述“三信”和“四信”依然属于“知”的范畴，从信到行的转化还需要坚若磐石的信念、矢志不移的决心及攻坚克难、造福人民的实践方能实现。为此，我们的党史学习、党性教育要在知信行合一，特别是“三信”“四信”转化为践行初心为人民幸福“办实事”、担当使命为民族复兴“开新局”、履行责任为世界大同“做贡献”的行动上下功夫。中华“心学”的精髓是“知行合一”，共产党人“心学”赓续中华“心学”之血脉，不仅作为一个大党说到做到、理论与实践统一、信仰与行动一致，每个党员作为中华优秀传统文化的传承者和弘扬者，作为马克思主义的信仰者和实践者，想问题、做决策、办事情都要把是否站在人民立场上、是否有助于解决群众难题、是否有利于增进人民福祉等作为自己干事创业的重要准绳，也都要在实践中、行动上展现一个充满自信、朝气蓬勃、不懈奋斗、无私奉献的共产党人的形象。

As noted above, faith, as a practical system integrating knowledge and action, must ultimately be implemented in action. Every thought, every word, every move, every deed can radiate the brilliance of faith and the charisma of the practitioner. Action corresponds to the earlier “application”; applying what one has learned, integrating knowledge and action, and linking substance and function are the best ways to practice faith. No matter how well one learns Marxist theoretical knowledge or how fluently one recites Marxist classics, if it cannot be transformed into faith or embodied in daily ethics and work, then it remains an external, mechanical dogma, merely a label or a symbol. Action, practice, fulfillment, and implementation are the substance of faith; consistency between heart and mouth, between words and deeds, is the true meaning of faith. For Communists, “learning–reflection” and “knowledge–faith” constitute the cultivation of the inner sage, aimed at achieving the effort (功夫) of “wholeheartedness” (and what the ancients called “effort”); “application” and “action” constitute the undertaking of the outer king, aimed at achieving the goal of “serving the people.” The core and soul of the Communists’ “mind cultivation” is the integration of knowledge and action and the inner sage and outer king that manifest Party spirit, namely, serving the people wholeheartedly. This requires that practitioners of the Communists’ “mind cultivation” abide by the Party Constitution, Party regulations, and Party discipline, fulfill their oath of admission to the Party, and promote the realization of the common ideal and the far-reaching ideal through achievements that benefit the people.

如前所述，信仰作为知行合一的实践体系，最终要落实到行动中，一念一言、一举一动，都能发出信仰的光辉和行者的魅力。行，与前面的“用”相呼应，学以致用、知行合一、体用贯通便是最好的践行信仰。马克思主义理论知识学得再好，马克思主义经典著作背得再熟，如果不能转化为信仰，不能体现在伦常日用、工作事业之中，那它就还是外在的、机械的教条，只是一种标榜或符号。行动、实践、践履、践行，才是信仰的本体；心口如一、言行一致，才是信仰的真谛。对共产党人来说，“学—思”“知—信”为内圣修养，旨在修得“全心全意”的功夫（及古人所谓“工夫”）；“用”“行”为外王事业，旨在达成“为人民服务”的目的。共产党人“心学”的核心和灵魂就是彰显党性的知行合一、内圣外王，即全心全意为人民服务，这就要求共产党人“心学”的修炼者遵守党章党规党纪、践行入党誓言，以造福人民的业绩来推进共同理想和远大理想的实现。

In summary, the study and education of Party history, along with other regular Party spirit education and Party spirit cultivation activities, are for every Party member a process of “cultivating the Communists’ ‘mind cultivation.’” They must arm their minds with Marxist theory, use the Party’s struggle history and great achievements to inspire morale and clarify direction, use the Party’s glorious traditions and fine conduct to strengthen conviction and gather strength, use the Party’s practical creation and historical experience to enlighten wisdom and temper character, and use the Party’s scientific judgments and innovative theories to continuously improve their ability and level of governance. In the integration of learning, reflection, and application, learning is the means, reflection is the key, and application is the goal; learning leads to reflection, and reflection leads to application in a dialectical integration. In the unity of knowledge, faith, and action, knowledge is the carrier, faith is the core, and action is the destination; knowledge leads to faith, and faith leads to action in a dialectical unity.

总之，党史学习教育及其他常态化党性教育和党性修养活动，对于每个共产党员来说都是在“修炼共产党人的‘心学’”，都要用马克思主义理论武装头脑，用党的奋斗历程和伟大成就鼓舞斗志、明确方向，用党的光荣传统和优良作风坚定信念、凝聚力量，用党的实践创造和历史经验启迪智慧、砥砺品格，用党的科学判断和创新理论不断提高治国理政能力和水平。在学思用贯通中，学是手段，思是关键，用是目的，学而思、思而用辩证贯通；在知信行合一中，知是载体，信是核心，行是归宿，知而信、信而行辩证合一。

Online editor: Jing Mu

网络编辑：静穆