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Can We Suspend Our Words?

125 | Go beyond the limits of language with Alan Watts

Zen Michael
Zen Breaks

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“(…) at Harvard when I was there I once said that nothing is intellectually respectable unless it can be put into words”

In our society, language takes on a prominent role, almost as if it were the only valid form of communication, as Alan Watts pointed out in the quote above.

Although language is an excellent tool — and one that allows me to share this reflection with you — it is also very limited.

Its usefulness is mainly geared towards transmission. However, understanding precedes any worthwhile communication.

Many of our deepest experiences, such as emotions or breathing, are understood non-verbally.

So — as Alan Watts explains in the video I’m recommending to you today — we have to be aware that our own beliefs and values are shaped by the cultural context in which we live and the language that is used within it.

If we only use words, we are limited:

“Unfortunately, when we understand something, most of us really mean that we’ve got it translated into words. Although we understand an enormous number of things that we don’t know about in words at all.”

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