from Verse SixWritings are produced by words, and words come from knowledge; intellectuals do not know they do not constitute a fixed way. Terms that can be designated do not make books to be treasured. The learned come to an impasse again and again; this is not as good as keeping centered. Put an end to scholasticism, and there will be no worries; put an end to sagacity, abandon knowledge, and the people will benefit a hundredfold.~ Wen-tzu: Understanding the Mysteries ~
Tao is not Tao because Lao Tzu and Chuang Tzu wrote it in a book any more than God is not God or Allah is not Allah because their names appear in the Bible and Koran, respectively. We err when we place too much stock and emphasis on words and concepts. They aren't what it's all about; they are mere representations.This is not to suggest that we can't learn something from a book. However, what this passage underscores for me is that to experience genuinely the great mysteries of life, one needs to put the book down. Lao Tzu's words...my words...your words only point in a general direction. We each have to set out on the journey ourselves to see where that direction leads us.
This post is part of a series. For an introduction, go here.
exactly. there are many times where i have read someone else's words and didn't get what they were saying, then went out and experienced something for myself, thought it was an epiphany, wrote it down, and then realized that it said the exact same thing as the other person, essentially!
ReplyDeleteHere's something similar. You come across a new word -- one you don't remember ever seeing before in print -- and then you seem to come across it again and again and again. Of course, that's has nothing to do with this passage; it's just an interesting observation! :P
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