Comments on: Words of Wisdom http://inflowservices.com/weblog/2008/12/30/words-of-wisdom/ Sat, 19 May 2012 23:33:56 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 By: DJ http://inflowservices.com/weblog/2008/12/30/words-of-wisdom/#comment-3131 DJ Mon, 02 Feb 2009 21:28:09 +0000 http://inflowservices.com/weblog/?p=49#comment-3131 Claire thanx for your comment. I think you are right that it ‘maybe all the external searching that tunes us in enough to hear the call to internal focus.’ The challenge for me is to let go of my attachment to the external search and follow the call inward. All the ‘words of wisdom’ are just fingers pointing at the moon, as it were, that help us recognize the moon when we do finally experience it. Although the ‘fingers’, the ‘words’ themselves are not the moon. As my meditation teacher says, “Truth is in the experience not the description.” I think this is saying that truth lies in the silence that is beyond the manifestation of words. Ha, and for even more words in this vein, Lao Tzu begins the Tao Te Ching with this line translated as: "The Tao that can be told of is not the Absolute Tao. " or as “The ‘Tao’ is too great to be described by the name ‘Tao’.
If it could be named so simply, it would not be the eternal Tao.” or as “The Tao that can be trodden is not the enduring and unchanging Tao. The name that can be named is not the enduring and unchanging name.” I am not sure of the source of the first two translations. This last one is from the complete <a href="http://www.thetao.info/english/english.htm" rel="nofollow">James Legge Translation</a>. We all try as best as we can to describe that which we seek, and to help each other along the way. We each hear what we need when we are ready to hear it. My ego mind does dearly love to talk to others. Yet I am coming to know that I get nearer the truth when I practice quietly coming back to my center then when I try to describe the center. Clearly that has not stopped me though. So guess I will stop talking now. ;-> Claire thanx for your comment. I think you are right that it ‘maybe all the external searching that tunes us in enough to hear the call to internal focus.’ The challenge for me is to let go of my attachment to the external search and follow the call inward.

All the ‘words of wisdom’ are just fingers pointing at the moon, as it were, that help us recognize the moon when we do finally experience it. Although the ‘fingers’, the ‘words’ themselves are not the moon. As my meditation teacher says, “Truth is in the experience not the description.” I think this is saying that truth lies in the silence that is beyond the manifestation of words.

Ha, and for even more words in this vein, Lao Tzu begins the Tao Te Ching with this line translated as:

“The Tao that can be told of is not the Absolute Tao. ”

or as

“The ‘Tao’ is too great to be described by the name ‘Tao’.
If it could be named so simply, it would not be the eternal Tao.”

or as

“The Tao that can be trodden is not the enduring and unchanging Tao. The name that can be named is not the enduring and unchanging name.”

I am not sure of the source of the first two translations. This last one is from the complete James Legge Translation.

We all try as best as we can to describe that which we seek, and to help each other along the way. We each hear what we need when we are ready to hear it.
My ego mind does dearly love to talk to others. Yet I am coming to know that I get nearer the truth when I practice quietly coming back to my center then when I try to describe the center. Clearly that has not stopped me though. So guess I will stop talking now. ;->

]]> By: Claire http://inflowservices.com/weblog/2008/12/30/words-of-wisdom/#comment-3127 Claire Mon, 02 Feb 2009 16:46:31 +0000 http://inflowservices.com/weblog/?p=49#comment-3127 Wonderful! A very pithy little blog, with ideas that are relevant in my life at the moment. I agree that the significance of "wisdom words" is not real to us until we somehow experience it in our own lives, whether through meditation or some other deeply personal experience. But I also think we need and benefit from all the words and searching "out there," because it helps us recognize truth/wisdom when we finally encounter it for ourselves. Maybe it is all the external searching that tunes us in enough to hear the call to meditation or whatever other internal focus we may find. Ultimately, it is understanding or internalizing the meaning of the wisdom words that counts, but I think that reading the words in the various spiritual traditions and noticing that the essence is always similar, makes the "a-ha" moment when we finally feel or understand the truth/depth of the words through our own experience just that much more profound. Claire Wonderful! A very pithy little blog, with ideas that are relevant in my life at the moment. I agree that the significance of “wisdom words” is not real to us until we somehow experience it in our own lives, whether through meditation or some other deeply personal experience. But I also think we need and benefit from all the words and searching “out there,” because it helps us recognize truth/wisdom when we finally encounter it for ourselves. Maybe it is all the external searching that tunes us in enough to hear the call to meditation or whatever other internal focus we may find. Ultimately, it is understanding or internalizing the meaning of the wisdom words that counts, but I think that reading the words in the various spiritual traditions and noticing that the essence is always similar, makes the “a-ha” moment when we finally feel or understand the truth/depth of the words through our own experience just that much more profound.
Claire

]]> By: DJ http://inflowservices.com/weblog/2008/12/30/words-of-wisdom/#comment-3117 DJ Thu, 29 Jan 2009 23:38:43 +0000 http://inflowservices.com/weblog/?p=49#comment-3117 LM, well said. Thank you for your thoughts. Pls come back with what this years' growth does bring for you. :-) LM, well said. Thank you for your thoughts. Pls come back with what this years’ growth does bring for you. :-)

]]> By: DJ http://inflowservices.com/weblog/2008/12/30/words-of-wisdom/#comment-3116 DJ Thu, 29 Jan 2009 23:33:23 +0000 http://inflowservices.com/weblog/?p=49#comment-3116 Wendy, thank you for your comment. :-) Wendy, thank you for your comment. :-)

]]> By: LM http://inflowservices.com/weblog/2008/12/30/words-of-wisdom/#comment-3111 LM Wed, 28 Jan 2009 05:27:01 +0000 http://inflowservices.com/weblog/?p=49#comment-3111 It is true that love and happiness have been sought in malls, shopping bags, credit cards and night clubs. I have been irritated when what should have been a picture perfect moment didn't have the exilerating feeling I had expected. As experience has shown me. It is within. Peaceful and tranquil moments leave room to see what is truly spectacular. Love comes from within and touches all around if it is nurtured. With each passing month, I am growing to see that the most valuable thing is the relationships we build with all those around us. I can't wait to feel what this years growth brings in my heart. Love, LM It is true that love and happiness have been sought in malls, shopping bags, credit cards and night clubs. I have been irritated when what should have been a picture perfect moment didn’t have the exilerating feeling I had expected. As experience has shown me. It is within. Peaceful and tranquil moments leave room to see what is truly spectacular. Love comes from within and touches all around if it is nurtured. With each passing month, I am growing to see that the most valuable thing is the relationships we build with all those around us. I can’t wait to feel what this years growth brings in my heart. Love, LM

]]> By: Wendy King http://inflowservices.com/weblog/2008/12/30/words-of-wisdom/#comment-3110 Wendy King Wed, 28 Jan 2009 04:53:14 +0000 http://inflowservices.com/weblog/?p=49#comment-3110 Thank you DJ, for your words of wisdom; I'm greatful for the encouragement. Be well. Wendy Thank you DJ, for your words of wisdom; I’m greatful for the encouragement. Be well. Wendy

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