Language is a strange thing. Words are not what they describe, and yet there can be great pleasure - and pain too - in them. "The finger pointing at the moon."
My understanding is that it is an old (Buddhist?) saying meaning that when you point at something, the moon for instance, even though you say 'that is the moon' it isn't really the moon. The moon is the moon. The finger pointing at the moon is just a pointer, like words are pointers.
This is such a poignant comment. it reminds me how we are given different selves in our multifaceted love for others. None of us are replaceable I guess; we are all snowflakes.
Words are just signals or pointers to the meaning, but they are not the meaning, i.e, the meaning of the moon is not in the pointing finger. It is in the moon.Fortunately, the moon is visible. However, we see it according to the distance and time.The more we approach it, the more it looks differently, until we land on a vast desert-like landscape.
Suppose that we have the ability to see the tiniest particles of matter.We will be looking into a vast space spotted with rotating protons, electrons and neutrons, or vibrating strings (string theory) and electromagnetic fields.
At that stage we should realize that we ourselves are only another vast space spotted with those rotating things, albeit in different arrangements and structure.
If we manage to move a little bit up the ladder of existence, we and the moon will get transformed into beams or waves of energy. We, with our pointing fingers and the moon, will become one thing.That is the meaning or reality of that bright tiny saucer traveling in the sky and named "moon"!!
Now, when it comes to the meaning of invisible things or beings, such God or the Lord or the Great Spirit or Love, these words carry nothing but our own imaginative perception of their meanings, derived from our different experiences in life.
The true meaning of love cannot be recognized but only when experienced.The same applies to the meaning or the presence of God or a higher being or any things that is not touchable.Moreover, the essence of even every touchable thing is not we perceive with our five senses and the processor of the input of those five senses: our tiny part of mind that is actually functioning.
We have to find ways to lift the veil and the illusions of the anxious and limited mind, in order for us to drift into the infinite meaning, feeling and experience of oneness, love, inner peace and life.
It's an endless and wonderful journey.The only sparse glimpses of that being and that life we get from time to time, should always encourage us to seek more.
******* Oh, my goodness!! that lecture is too much and too long !! forgive me friends..
Seeking the mystic rose... This blog is a commitment to myself, to improve what I can in expression. A canvas for my emotions, truths, thoughts and perceptions. Thankyou to all my readers, for their obvious enjoyment, and input. As the saying goes, Ex abundancia cordis, os loquitor - 'From the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks.' Or rather, the pen writes.
15 comments:
Language is a strange thing. Words are not what they describe, and yet there can be great pleasure - and pain too - in them. "The finger pointing at the moon."
What I meant in the last statement:
My understanding is that it is an old (Buddhist?) saying meaning that when you point at something, the moon for instance, even though you say 'that is the moon' it isn't really the moon. The moon is the moon. The finger pointing at the moon is just a pointer, like words are pointers.
thank you for explaining , Ruth! :)
Yes, it makes perfect sense now.
In essence, you have abstracted the person whom you love. Ultimately, whom you love is just a canvas to paint your affections on.
This is such a poignant comment. it reminds me how we are given different selves in our multifaceted love for others. None of us are replaceable I guess; we are all snowflakes.
I like the way Ruth explained it.
Isn't it true that language (words) limit the expression of emotion if not emotion itself.
There are gifted writers (like you) who can do magic with words to express that emotion to exact in amazingly beautiful way!!!
Ops disappearing words now lost remind me of true love present yet unseen.
That is phenomenal..
The heart of the sentence is in the subject. Certainly not the object. And definitely not the verb.
Mystic and your friends
Happy new year,
Building on what Ruth has said,
Words are just signals or pointers to the meaning, but they are not the meaning, i.e, the meaning of the moon is not in the pointing finger. It is in the moon.Fortunately, the moon is visible. However, we see it according to the distance and time.The more we approach it, the more it looks differently, until we land on a vast desert-like landscape.
Suppose that we have the ability to see the tiniest particles of matter.We will be looking into a vast space spotted with rotating protons, electrons and neutrons, or vibrating strings (string theory) and electromagnetic fields.
At that stage we should realize that we ourselves are only another vast space spotted with those rotating things, albeit in different arrangements and structure.
If we manage to move a little bit up the ladder of existence, we and the moon will get transformed into beams or waves of energy. We, with our pointing fingers and the moon, will become one thing.That is the meaning or reality of that bright tiny saucer traveling in the sky and named "moon"!!
Now, when it comes to the meaning of invisible things or beings, such God or the Lord or the Great Spirit or Love, these words carry nothing but our own imaginative perception of their meanings, derived from our different experiences in life.
The true meaning of love cannot be recognized but only when experienced.The same applies to the meaning or the presence of God or a higher being or any things that is not touchable.Moreover, the essence of even every touchable thing is not we perceive with our five senses and the processor of the input of those five senses: our tiny part of mind that is actually functioning.
We have to find ways to lift the veil and the illusions of the anxious and limited mind, in order for us to drift into the infinite meaning, feeling and experience of oneness, love, inner peace and life.
It's an endless and wonderful journey.The only sparse glimpses of that being and that life we get from time to time, should always encourage us to seek more.
*******
Oh, my goodness!! that lecture is too much and too long !! forgive me friends..
its been years since i was wishing to know what i really missed
thanks for pelling it out
now i know
beautiful.
rasheed,
spot on.
Words have their limits...when associating with love that's eternal
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