I have two answers. The first is that I have created a false dichotomy. There is no division, only an indivisible whole of experience. To understand love you must live it, and to live it you must understand it. The two are inseperable, and to ask which is better is to ask an illogical question. (Such as: Which is the bigger number, four or 4?)
The second answer I have is that they are instead equally important, two different paths to the same end. Starting at (0,-1) on the unit circle, which arc of the circle is best to follow to get you to (0,1)? The arcs are clearly different, and yet they are both equal. There is no better or worse, only difference. But just as the best path (shortest distance) is to travel along the y-axis, the best way to live is to do both. Yin and yang, the white horse of reason and the dark horse of passion, we need both to be complete.
Action without thought is waste.
Thought without action is meaningless.
Yet thoughtful action can change the entire world.
Thought without action is meaningless.
Yet thoughtful action can change the entire world.
6 comments:
I'm using math analogies again, it's obvious I have no idea what the hell I'm talking about.
Is that your quote at the end? If so, very philosphical...
I don't think I can debate with you on this one when I agree with you. Huh. First for everything.
"To understand love you must live it, and to live it you must understand it."
I agree. I guess my question is how do you truely know when you understand something like love? Or how do you know you live it? Is it possible for human beings to fully understand and comprehend an feeling, emotion, and truely undescribable complexity?
If not...well how does one love?
Interested to hear your thoughts.
Yes, that's my quote at the end. And I thought you would like the first part more than the second.
Is it possible for a human to fully understand a truely indescribable complexity? This is exactly the concept of zen enlightenment, and I believe that it is possible.
"Now I understood the Taoist saying 'he who says does not know, he who knows does not say' - not because the wise don't speak, but because It cannot be spoken. Words fall as short of It as a rock thrown at the stars." - Dan Millman
Another Millman quote I like:
There is no way to peace;
Peace is the Way.
There is no way to happiness;
Happiness is the Way.
There is no way to love;
Love is the Way.
-Dan Millman
Yeah, I know these aren't MY thoughts, but my answer would basically be a clumsier version of the above.
I understand 'he who says does not know, he who knows does not say' concept, but I suppose I struggle with the idea of how one still knows that he understands an indescribably complexity, like love.
How does one know that he knows? Isn't it human nature to always think there's more to something, especially something a concept that is so open and vast as love?
Perhaps I just don't know the intricacies of Zen Enlightenment to fully comprehend or understand yet.
I have no idea what the intricacies of zen enlightenment are either. All I have are little bits and pieces I've collected from hundereds of differnt sources. I'm still working on putting all of the pieces together, in the hope that it will make a clear(or at least clearer) image when I finish.
The definition of philosophy is basically the study of knowing how we know things. People have been asking and re-asking that question since the dawn of time. I'm certainly not an expert in philosophy, and there's no way to definitively prove what little I do about it anyway. There are a few theories that appeal to me, (espcially Descartes, Kant, and as far as he goes, Uberto Eco) but there are pro's and con's to each system.
Zen is just the opposite. How we know what we know is irrelevent to Zen, because Zen is about making peace with uncertainty and living in groundlessness. We know nothing in Zen, and that's the point.
I'm studying both Zen and philosophy, but I am not enlightened and I have no PhD's. Basically, your question is beyond me right now, but I'm working on it.
Haha, okay, you get a free pass until you become completely enlightened. But then I want answers...!!!
Or I'll punch you in the arm really hard.
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