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Words fail us at the mountain's peak. That deafening silence—somehow both empty and filled with something profound—defies language yet demands our attention. This paradox sits at the heart of our exploration into Zen's complex relationship with language.

Many seekers stumble when they encounter Buddhism's warnings about the limitations of words. They mistake this caution for a wholesale rejection of language rather than understanding its specific context. The problem isn't ordinary conversation—it's what happens when words attempt to capture transcendent experiences or when we mistake the menu for the meal.

Through vivid metaphors and personal experiences, we unpack how language functions like rocket boosters—essential for achieving escape velocity from ordinary thinking but ultimately discarded when entering the vastness of direct experience. We examine the Buddha's famous raft metaphor: after expending tremendous effort building a raft to cross the river, would you then carry it on your back once you've reached the other shore?

We also explore the psychological dimension of fixed ideas—how past experiences can hijack our perception, like a child unable to cross a rug where he once saw a beetle. These mental patterns don't just color our world; they can freeze us in place, unable to absorb new information or move forward.

The path of Zen isn't about endless philosophical debate. Two people can argue forever about whether water in a cup is hot or cold without ever taking a sip. Direct experience trumps conceptual understanding every time.

Is Buddhism pessimistic because it acknowledges suffering? No more than windshield wipers are pessimistic for clearing rain from your view. We don't leave the wipers on constantly—we use them when conditions require better vision.

Join our conversation and share your thoughts. This podcast isn't meant to be a one-way broadcast but a living dialogue across time and space. What experiences have taken your words away?

Support the show

Dr. Ruben Lambert can be found at wisdomspring.com

Ven. MyongAhn Sunim can be found at soshimsa.org