"All Words Are Lies"
01/06/2004 05:53 p.m.

Dear ____,

It was good to get your response to the most recent of my quarterly scribblings. I found reference to Diane Ackerman here: http://www.talentdevelop.com/Page8.html and find that the descriptions of "deep psychology" (to which I have seen reference over the last few years, sometimes in connection with C.G. Jung) remind me of The Tao as shown by Lao Tzu.

We seem to be headed toward a renaissance of Eastern ways, especially The Tao, despite (or maybe due to) our incessant and exclusive (Western-scientific) use of the rational faculty that ultimately ends at a wall where all the stuff beyond cannot be explained ("laid out flat") rationally. Another teacher to help look at these differences in Ways is Alan Watts.

I am in an interesting quandary regarding the use of words to communicate anything to anyone. "All words are lies" in that they can never communicate the direct experience of the thing perceived by the sender of the message to those who have differently arranged nervous systems. I keep relearning this. This is, perhaps, why I tend toward the minimal in my poetry and other writings. The least said the better -- in order to eschew obfuscation. It is also important to be silly. I have come upon this notion recently (that is, in these exact words -- I intend to write on ":the Importance of Being Silly"). Silliness helps us look at the world from different angles to help get a sort of triangulation on the subject at hand.

I am happy for your progress in the world of psychology and your direct experiences with old folks. I assume you take notes. Perhaps they can form the basis of stories?

I recommend to you the 26-page introduction in Alan Watts's "The Supreme Identity: An Essay on Oriental Metaphysic and the Christian Religion." Vintage Books paperback.

2004 will be a good year.

Warm regards,

/Ron