The three terms
| Term | Use in the lecture |
|---|---|
| Zhi: cognition | Thoughts, ideas and other cognitive activity. |
| Qing: emotion | Emotional experiences such as tension, sadness or joy. |
| Yi: volitional action | Activities such as working, studying, eating and interacting with others. |
Why make this distinction?
The speaker distinguishes an attitude toward thoughts or emotions that have already arisen from choices about concrete behavior. The lecture emphasizes action in everyday life, rather than requiring all discomfort to disappear before acting.
Limits of the simplified framework
This is a conceptual framework used in the course. The notes' simplified “controllable / uncontrollable” table needs the surrounding explanation. It does not establish that everyone can freely control every behavior, or that emotions cannot be regulated at all.