The order of the world is very different from the order we create with the rules of our syntax and grammar. The order of the world is extraordinarily complex, while the order of words is relatively simple, and to use the order of words to try to explain life is really as clumsy an operation as trying to drink water with a fork. Our confusion of the order of logic and of words with the order of nature is what makes everything seem so problematic to us. [emphasis added]~ Alan Watts in What is Tao? ~
Thursday, September 10, 2009
More on Words
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HI R T
ReplyDelete"WHAT"???? :-)
Hmmmm, I lost ya. but is is temporary I am sure.
Love you
Gail
peace.....
What does that mean? That treating life as if it had structure drives one nuts because life doesn't follow patterns but is free to flow?
ReplyDeletei think it means that... the world is too complex to understand with words, that there are many things in this world that don't fit within human speech patterns and language.
ReplyDeleteyou can think of our language as a thin piece of translucent paper with grid markings on it. each language has different grid "patterns"... now try to go up to real life objects holding the grid in front of it. you miss some detail that way, and also it looks much dimmer, less vibrant, then it really is. you are also looking at the object relative to the grid lines. but you have to take away the paper to see the real thing as it truly is.
that is my "interpretation" of his bit about patterns. :) strangely enough that analogy was modified from what i read on discordianism... lol
But life does have structure. The seasons follow one another in impeccable order. What rises surely falls. From little acorns to mighty oaks grow. You can count on it.
ReplyDeleteIn my interpretation of daoism, this is a key: to learn the order and rhythms of nature and to apply those lessons to one's own actions.
yes, nature does have structure, but it's not the same structure we apply to it. humans apply structure so that we can understand things... nature applies structure so that it can function optimally. for example the seasons always change, but not always as man predicts it. for example, this whole summer (where i live) felt like fall! we had 60 degree weather throughout the season, and the cool weather started breeding season early on our farm. humans chose one day where fall ends and winter begins, but no one can say when the first snow will fall.
ReplyDelete: )ing big time at this one.
ReplyDeleteThus, we have sturcture and within that structure, we have freedom.
ReplyDeleteMy own view of Daoism is that Daoism is like Western Science. Both were contrived by people to create a map to try and make sense of the world around them.
You folks get enough of my opinions, so that's why I haven't responded to the comments. I was hoping you all would have a good discussion on meaning without me and this has occurred. For my part, my understanding is close to that of my pal, Iktomi. :)
ReplyDeleteRick,
ReplyDeleteI don't think Daoism tries to "make sense" of the world at all, in fact I think one of the main teachings is to not worry about what makes sense or not, and to just accept things as they are (whether or not you can understand them.)
It's human natur to try and make sense of the world around you. Daoism doesn't try to explain; Daoism IS an explanation through the concepts of wuji, taiji, the trinity of heaven man and earth, the for seasons, the five elements, the five wus, and the 64 hexagrams, among others.
ReplyDelete