Question about "Words"

1/4/2020

I read the section about "No Words." If words are not important, why should we chant? ~Jasmine

Tony

1/4/2020 05:59:05 pm

This is a great question. In Buddhism, you will find there are many teachings that seem contradictory to each other or against what we perceive as common sense. The Buddha realized this and explained it as follows; The Buddha taught that his teachings should be considered a raft which helps you cross the river, but once you cross you need to put that down and move forward. You are not supposed to hold tightly to any teaching because doing so will hold you back from progressing towards the truth and Buddhahood. The Buddha also taught that everything we see in the world is false and a mirage so a lot of what we think is true and common sense, is actually not the truth.

The teachings of "No Words" is part of the Perfect Wisdom sutras. The purpose of these later sutras is to teach the dharmas that are harder to comprehend and accept. For example, in the Perfect Wisdom Sutras the Buddha says there is "No Being" but the Buddha has often used the word "beings" to describe people, animals, gods, etc. Does that mean the Buddha was wrong someplace? It may seem that to those who grasp at things like words as the truth. But words are just another manifestation and reflection of what people see and think. So if the Buddha says what people see is untrue, then how can the words that people have created to describe what they see not also be untrue.

This does not mean that all words are meaningless and bad. It's like if you are on a deserted island and the only thing to eat was hotdogs. Should you not eat it because it's unhealthy? Of course not, you eat what you can to survive. Similarly, even though words are not the truth, it is what we as humans rely on to learn and communicate.

Think of mantras and chants as organic turkey hotdogs. They are words that have positive effects for the speaker and others, but not perfect. There is a greater truth, or another raft, but we are not yet capable of utilizing that. Hope this helps.😊

Jasmine

1/5/2020 07:00:45 am

So, you are saying our words evolve as our thinking and needs change. We do not stay the same, and our words should reflect that.

Tony

1/5/2020 08:50:58 am

The main thing to remember is that, there are many things in the world that cannot be adequately described by words truthfully. Similarly, there are also many things in the world that are untrue that can be stated in words. As such to depend on words to make your logical and spiritual decisions is ignorant and foolhardy.

Erin link

5/23/2022 02:16:02 am

Thanks for writing thhis

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Question about "Words"

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