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words, words, words

genkakugenkaku Northampton, Mass. U.S.A. Veteran
edited December 2010 in Buddhism Basics
As a photograph may advertise a new car or a beautiful waterfall, so words attempt to depict experience. Both the photo and the words may be deeply touching, but no one would expect the advertisement to BE the thing depicted or, in the case of words, the actual experience described.

If all this is more or less true, to what extent should anyone take words -- whether profound or shallow -- seriously?

Just thinking.

Comments

  • SherabDorjeSherabDorje
    edited December 2010
    Words signify reality or concepts, or other phenomena. It is necessary to have words in order to communicate and conceptualize reality, concepts, or phenomena. As long as we don't mistake the words for the phenomena, we are using them correctly. In that case, we should take them seriously. If not, not. Simple.
  • MountainsMountains Veteran
    edited December 2010
    The finger pointing at the moon is not the moon :)
  • andyrobynandyrobyn Veteran
    edited December 2010
    Often words are all we have to try and express the unexpressable with - can be frustrating ... remember realising on a retreat once that for the first time I was no longing thinking in words about a concept and it was a very interesting experience.
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