Defining The Ineffable | The Tao
"Only words and conventions can isolate us from the entirely undefinable something which is everything." Alan Watts
At first glance, to the human mind, reality appears to be constructed of signs. Basically, it looks like a whole bunch of things that point at other things instead of things that exist in themselves. For example, the idea of a “pencil” is a lot easier to think about and understand on a practical level than the true nature of that object. When you look at one, the image of the pencil runs through a filter of perception in your mind, matching and comparing it with all of your memories and ideas of what a “pencil” is in order to build up an interpretation that helps you understand what it does and how you can use it. But you missed a lot. Zoom in, maybe it’s more accurate to describe the pencil as a wooden stick painted yellow with rubber and graphite. Or you could even get specific about the temperature of it, what kind of molecules its made of, etc. In reality, it’s all of those things at the same time, but no matter how long you try to describe it, you will never capture the essence of what it truly is in all of its complexity. Signs, symbols, and language simply fall short of reality. Unfortunately, this one of the greatest challenges in communication.
As a society, we make sense of the world by negotiating symbols that help us collectively understand one another and the external things we want to refer to and point at in communication. We need markers in order to share thoughts. Language, in itself, is the compartmentalization of meaning that provides a platform on which we can connect with one another. Words give us the ability to express ourselves and understand each other in greater detail.
Although symbols are incredibly important for practical communication, we have to recognize that expression lacks the ability to mirror the intention of its source. Consider how difficult it can be to describe the way you feel. No matter what words you choose to string together, you realize that none of them can capture the true essence of emotion. This is because the inner-workings of consciousness do not operate on the structure of language-- there is something deeper and more profound occurring; something indescribable which lies at the core of what is able to be expressed.
Hi, I’m David Connor. Well, that’s just the label that’s used to identify me. I have always been awe-struck and deeply perplexed by the mysterious workings of the universe. My fascination with studies of philosophy, psychology and communication has led me on the journey of digging deeper into the wonder of existence. I created this blog, Expressions of the Ineffable, to share diverse aspects of human philosophy in terms that can universally apply to help direct our gaze toward something deeper, closing in on the meaning of that which is ultimately inexpressible.
Interestingly, Taoism speaks extensively about this topic, and the concept of “The Tao” really helps illustrate the nature of the “Ineffable” that I’m referring to. The Tao Te Ching, a fundamental text in Taoism, explains that: “The Tao which can be spoken cannot be the true Tao.”
So… if we can’t name the true Tao, or even talk about it, then how are we supposed to construct an understanding of what it really is?
It does this in a sort of paradoxical manner: the word, in itself, is an expression that describes the very essence of the inexpressible. By stating that the true Tao is beyond definition, it points out that the action of naming is not an attachment to an object, but rather to a perception.
It suggests that expression is limited to the confinement of how things appear, not how they truly are. You are not your name; that’s just a symbolic marker to represent your appearance. There’s far more to us than just our names, or any other boxed-in and simplified description. Likewise, your reflection in the mirror is merely an appearance, a perception within a single point of space and time, and falls short of the true nature within.
The Tao reflects the very essence of linguistic representation, acting as a symbol which points toward that which lies beyond its own descriptive insufficiency: “The Way of the Cosmos.” It is not a particular thing, but rather the totality of all things. After all, in order for there to be “things” at all, we must perceive and define them as separate from everything else; breaking apart the essence of what truly is.
Taoism teaches that human life can be improved by relying not on symbolic structures or artificial identities, but rather on the core essence of nature that inspires these expressions. The Taoists believe that this is how we can attain a personal alignment with natural order— which carries out the will of Tian (Heaven) on Earth.
The Taoists believe that this human desire to construct a physical stairway to the infinite is a source of suffering and separation; similar to the story of the Tower of Babel from the Old Testament where as a result of attempting to build a tower that could reach God, they were cursed with scattered dialects. Unless we can come to know the Ineffable from within for ourselves, our searching and yearning will ultimately drive us apart.
The Ineffable cannot be captured by grasping,
like the horizon which can never be reached by running toward it.
The path to the Ineffable is not walked by foot, but explored within.
It is to look at the ground and realize that the horizon is always right there with you;
all it takes is a shift of perspective.
