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Fortunately, the true potential of
mythopoeism as well as the limitations of literalism continues to be disclosed
and communicated at an exponential rate, thanks to ongoing efforts in the
fields of psychology and comparative mythology, as well as related developments
within the spheres to the biological and cognitive sciences, which continue to
enjoy a great increase of interest.
Even in the absence of these advances,
however, most of us can recognize a clarifying, enlightening capacity is
intrinsic to metaphoric language if we simply devote a little time considering
the plain facts. For
instance, when a friend informs us that
sunrise was at 0615 we naturally grasp the truth of
the expression, even though it is literally nonsense;
we know the sun does not literally rise, yet we understand the truth of ‘sunrise.’
We constantly use similar literal fallacies, contradictions, and paradoxical
expressions to accurately communicate in nearly every area of our everyday
lives.
It is usually only when we try to verify
or refute the products of abstract
speculation – hence subtracted from their actual context – that we get
entangled in arguments confined by the limitations of dictionary
definitions. The expressions of poetry,
koans, and myth are informed
by wisdom concerning the
true nature of reality, thus by wisdom of the
true potential of language.
The Zen master Shibi once said, ‘The whole
universe is one bright pearl.’ According to dualistic or literal standards,
Shibi’s assertion is unequivocally false, irrational, meaningless nonsense. In
accordance with
Zen or nondual standards however, Shibi’s
statement is not only true, rational, and infused with ultimate meaning, it is
charged with liberating potential. The power of such a metaphor is often
precisely due to its paradoxical quality
– the fact that it
is ‘literally false.’ For
instance, upon hearing Shibi’s assertion the Zen practitioner immediately
grasps the truth that the whole universe is and is not ‘one bright pearl.’ Nobody is foolish enough
to think Shibi means the whole universe is literally one
bright pearl, thus the actual truth (real knowledge) communicated by the expression
must abide at a deeper level.
If we fail to grasp the truth communicated
by the word ‘sunrise’ the failure does not rest with the word or the person that
expresses it, but with our
ability to discern its
true meaning. The truth that ‘the whole universe is one bright pearl’ is not
rendered false by our failure to grasp it – nor is it rendered true by
subjecting it to a literal definition; its actual truth endures as it is, and only as
it is – even if only one being understands it.
Some scholars, by attempting to subject
the language of Zen to (dualistic) literal standards, have cited isolated
passages from Shobogenzo
in support of their
claims that the work is ‘inconsistent.’ To charge Shobogenzo with inconsistency based on such standards
is about as reasonable as charging our friend with lying for saying that
sunrise occurred at 0615. We do not need linguistic expertise or a degree in postmodern
philosophy to recognize that ‘sunrise’ is not its reality
and still recognize the truth actually communicated. As Dogen says:
This ‘One Pearl’ is still not Its name,
but It can be expressed so, and this has come to be regarded as Its name.
Shobogenzo, Ikka Myoju (Gudo
Nishijima & Mike Cross)
