In a world that is already confusing for many, overloaded with information for a large number of people and filled with “happenings” all the time across the globe, we add to our woes by giving the written word even more authority, often a prominence higher than our own experience/s. You see words are the basics and fundamental formation of the basis of the “illusionary” nature of the universe. We comprehend and begin composing words right when we are 1.5 to 2 years old. From our ultimate and merged bliss (which is the state a baby comes into), we formulate and “learn” words and through that we slowly and steadily learn to form coherent thoughts and form ideas and concepts and plans and strategies. Now while nothing is wrong with all of that; we forget in the process that “words” are just “words”. They are not the thing actually i.e. we can say the name of the fruit “orange”, but the word “orange” is not the fruit – the fruit is the fruit (not the word orange, got it?). The word “orange” is our mental approximation/label of what the thing “orange” is. The fruit/thing orange can only be known when you hold it, touch it, eat it and taste its juice in your mouth. The word “orange” is still not the fruit; it’s just the word – it can connote all of that (taste, juiciness, orange flavor) etc., but it’s still just a word.
And words have their place and are of course useful for communication and interaction, but the problem comes up, when we start giving it authority over our own inner experiences. A good example are the religious texts, where words seem to have a disproportionate (almost diabolical in some cases) effect on the mind. I have had many discussions in my life, where people start quoting from religious scripture almost like it’s some nasty supreme court judge with the ultimate draconian authority to set the rules, with no one allowed to disobey any of its “interpreted” rules (interpreted of course, by whomsoever finds it convenient in the discussion or the world at large). Another example is the daily habit of reading the newspaper (online or offline). People read news and stories, like it is an authoritative text/image on all the many and illusionary “happenings” in the world. We sidestep our own experience and start focusing on what newspaper editors want us to focus on – the number of deaths, the rapes, the constant glorification of poverty and in Indian newspapers the obsession with politics and CEO’s by the business media (all themes which recur in most leading international dailies as well).
When we read something in the newspaper, a magazine or even online (this blog included); we are somehow conditioned to believe it, give it some validity and give it authority. But that is the problem – that is the moment in which your power is gone – voom (or rather your power is given away by you – voom). And that is why is has often been said the “pen is mightier than the sword”…because with the sword people resist and perhaps fight back; with the written word people happily hand over their minds and bodies to you (see the civilizational success of the holy texts of all religions and of newspapers -:)).
But there is one thing mightier than even the pen -> it is your VIVEKA or “discrimination” (which unfortunately runs in short supply in the world today, but which needs to be encouraged, inculcated and people trained in how to use it to question things from a deeper and more mystical framework).With discrimination you can spot the long-term truths from the short-term urgencies. With VIVEKA you can distinguish between something that is just momentarily pleasurable to something that may have long-term beneficence. With Viveka you can create solid long-term metrics for your business, instead of looking for short-term gains.
The written word is not the Gospel or Gita (in fact even the Gospel and the Gita are just a collection of words…unless you can make it your experience in the highest sense…); the written word is just a tool, a manner of communication, THATS IT. What is behind those written words, the experiences, the stories, the lives is another thing altogether and is still a reality interpreted through the glasses the author of those words wears. Thats true for all of us writers and non writers, human or divine.
So tomorrow morning when you read the news or the next time you pick up the bible or quran or avesta, apply your discrimination. Read “with a pinch of salt”. Know its someones TAKE on the world and not reality itself. Seek to discover the universe, life and living through your inner experiences and test and see if there is validation in the written word for that. Apply a scientific process actually to the written word, instead of taking it blindly at face value. Then the written word will be able to expand your consciousness, only then. Otherwise it could be a tool to brainwash you – often on a daily basis -:)
Dennis Taraporewala 
Dennis – I think you over-rate my words! HaHaHa 🙂
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@Anand – what a super description, I couldn’t agree more. Really well put, the concept, the feeling, the reality.
@Neeil, so happy you are enjoying reading this. Its true what you say and people do get swayed in by the usage of good words. Take care and great regards.
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First, (as always) I would like to say “Fantastic”. Well said! In the Gulf till today, the Gulf Media is using its local media power to save their shame of 100 billion dollar debt ….. and its funny how gullible people are and believe it easily. But not everyone is “Dennis”. Keep it going mate, and I look forward to reading more of your blogs.
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I would like to share my observations on the very interesting below comment made by Curt Hill, which appears to summarise his key insights with regard to Dennis’s blogpost.
“I think he misses that we only know ourselves, our experience, and the world itself through language”
At one level, what Curt says is very true. A large part of our sense of who we are, what the world around us is and the nature and movement of our life experiences are powerfully captured, uncovered and discovered by our ability to express and share what we experience in a common idiom.
However, the universe and this reality that is observed, defined and rebuilt as a reflection in our collective imagination is the aspect of our existence that is in a state of fundamental flux. The term ‘maya’ or ‘illusion’ used by Eastern thought to describe this outer reality underlines the fact that all events at this level are temporal in nature and subject to the cycle of creation and dissolution.
There is however an underlying reality to this existence, to this moment, that lies beyond words or music or any other form of expression – that comes alive with the cessation of the restless pursuit of human life to capture and control – that comes alive in a state of complete surrender to the moment – that brings alive within us an essence that cannot be described but can only be experienced.
The Zen koan about the ‘sound of one hand clapping’ leads to such a reality – by letting go – of the illusion and the questions and the webs built between them.
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Dear Curt,
As you say, agreeing or disagreeing is neither important nor called for.
Its true, I would say it is sometimes unfortunate, that we know ourselves and our experiences only through language (there are so many many ways outside of language to know ourselves right?). Especially since language is just one tool; just one aspect of our reality. There maybe so many deeper layers, that are unmanifest in language. For example when someone says “even words could not describe what I felt that day” what is one saying? The experience is still there, the feeling is still there, the juice is still there; but there are no words that can describe the experience.
You are absolutely right, that without the domain of language I could not create or share what I have in this blog passage (and of course I could create wonderful music or art without the domain of language…the “domain of language” is just one tool I have) and that is why in this blog entry (where I have used language), I have included and mentioned my own blog when I said “When we read something in the newspaper, a magazine or even online (this blog included); we are somehow conditioned to believe it, give it some validity and give it authority. But that is the problem – that is the moment in which your power is gone – voom (or rather your power is given away by you – voom).”
Its great hearing from you although we do not not know each other (wonders of the internet -:)). Let me know who forwarded the entry to you, it would be wonderful and glad you spent some time reading it.
Warm regards/ Dennis.
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I wrote this responding to a friend who shared this piece with me. the “he” or “him” in here refers to Dennis.
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Thanks for sharing this – and, I don’t agree with him, not that agreeing or disagreeing is important or even called for. I think he misses that we only know ourselves, our experience, and the world itself through language – I would submit that we only know our experiences in language. that is to say, how do you know what you experience? How do you know what you feel? Or intuit? I would suggest, that when we really get down to it, for a human being, we only “know” that by virtue of what we have to say about it. For instance, I might say something like “I had the most amazing and enlightening experience yesterday. I had the experience of being bigger than myself – like I encompassed all of life. it was such a profound and moving experience and has altered me forever.” I would say we only know that by virtue of language.
Here, for me, is an amazing passage from an Inuit Eskimo Elder
“Words do not label things already there. words are like the knife of the carver: they free the idea, the thing, from the general formlessness of the outside. As a man speaks, not only is his language in a state of birth, but also the very thing about which he is talking”
Without “words”, or I think more powerfully said, without the domain of language and word, Dennis could not create what he created in this blog passage. By virtue of language, he creates something, distinguishes something. His saying “words are overrated – use your discrimination” is no more or less truth than someone relating to the bible or the Koran as the truth. I think looking for the truth is the mistake. I think the opportunity is create, like the carver using the knife in language what there is to create, without concern for whether it is the truth or not, just whether or not it is authentic.
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Very nice…
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Dear Amit, I did not realise you were reading the blog. great to see you here. Take Care, Dennis
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Dennis – While words may obfuscate reality, they are also a thing of beauty. When a good writer (such as yourself) pens down their thoughts, the reader is (for a moment) taken into the world and thoughts you have conjured. However I do agree blindly believing the written word just because it’s written or on the net is dangerous. One must apply the same filters one applies when one hears multiple opinions in conversation and picks the one that seems more balanced and persuasive. Excellent topic.
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Hi Ajit, Great hearing from you. What you say is true and at the same time good to keep Viveka in mind. Hope you had a great weekend. Warmth, Dennis
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Hi Erin, Thank you for your kind words. Glad you enjoyed reading it. Much Love, Dennis
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Fabulous Dennis. Thank you!
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