In a post a while back I started with the quote:
Those who know do not speak;
Those who speak do not know.
Shunryu Suzuki, a Soto-zenpriest who lived in San fransisco in the 1960′s elaborated this one a bit further when his pupils were asking about this.
You are all enlightened until you open your mouth
Well, so far so good. What’s the problem with talking you might ask, the biggest problem is that we’re all full of shit and talking about just about anything will only make things worse because we can’t seem to properly convey what it is we are thinking. So indeed, we are enlightened (or at least seem that way) until we start speaking. And the longer we speak the bigger the hole we dig for ourselves for sooner or later people will catch on and realize we’re full of it.
The hammer leads the way
Going through life trying to convince others that you’re right or you know the path to enlightenment isn’t the way to go. The best way (at least according to Zen) is to lead by example and above all, to shut up about it as the words simply won’t get the message across…
..If you doubt this try the following simple experiment:
- Read this sentence: “I just got hit in the head with a hammer and it hurts”
-Now do the following: Hit yourself in the head with a hammer, does it hurt?
A world of difference I should hope.
Reading about something or talking about it isn’t the same as “it”. Truly those who know do not speak for trying to capture something in words will fail.
So keep your mouth closed, and at least pretend you know. An outsider won’t see the difference. But as soon as you start talking you’re doomed.
On the other hand, there are so many bloggers out there who are leading the way. The biggest problem being the only way they can tell you what they are doing is by “talking” (typing) so you can follow them. It’s a flawed system that ultimately will always leave gaps in experience. That’s perfectly alright though, as long as you realize this.
You’re all enlightened, now keep quite!
…the power of silence.
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