Word Vortex

vortex, originally uploaded by The Stranger.

The Divine is not real as we are real, nor is it unreal. The divine is not living in the sense humans live, nor is it dead. The Divine is not compassionate as we use the term, nor is it uncompassionate. And so on. We can never truly define God in words. All we can do is say, it isn't this, but also, it isn't that either". In the end, the student must transcend words to understand the nature of the Divine.

In this sense, neti-neti is not a denial. Rather, it is an assertion that whatever the Divine may be, when we attempt to capture it in human words, we must inevitably fall short, because we are limited in understanding, and words are limited in ability to express the transcendent.

To me it's the difference between philosophy and religion. Philosophy seeks to understand things by framing them in words. Religion seeks to understand directly. And I feel that Religion in this sense is superior to Philosophy. The religious dude gets enlightenment as the grand prize whereas the philosopher gets a really good book or essay.

I think I was accused sometime back of following back on this basic premise whenever I see fit in discussions. And to me this makes perfect sense. Having the understanding that words and ideas are limiting is a happy conclusion that acts for me as a sheild. A sheild that gives me the liberty to try out many concepts and viewpoints without getting attached to any of them. Also if someone starts argueing or trying to disprove something Ive said using logic or whatever I find it humourous to back out of it altogether! Because I already know that any thing I say or think of the oposite is also true. Words are just games.

But it's important to know that there is something beyond the words that can't be reached at with the words (and that that something ((God, the truth)) is better than anything that words or ideas can grasp). Because otherwise you'll get all caught up in words. And not get enough excerise.

Do you need words to make love? Do you need them to play foosball?