Help
Sign In
writing
November 2009 
Language is Holy
Posted on Jul 28th, 2009
by 
Sandra
Sandra
Recently I made a post in the Quotes about Writing room on Diving Deeper, where I posted a couple of excerpts from a wonderful article "Why I Have to Write"
By Zen monk Zoketsu Norman Fischer.
I love this piece so much I thought I'd share it here.
The summary given of the article is: "Aren’t words and concepts the antithesis of enlightenment? In an essay published in the March 2007 issue of Shambhala Sun, Norman wonders why he is compelled to write, and concludes that all language is a form of prayer."
Norman Fischer was trying to see if there was a connection between meditation and writing - two activities he is deeply involved with. He writes:
But is writing so different? In Diving Deeper - in the online workshop here on Gaia and in the 'real life' workshops I give, I often say that the process is a kind of meditation - and that why I am so attracted to the particular process of Freefall, out of which most of my writing comes, is because of its similarities with spiritual approaches I have been involved with.
"I remember Jackson MacLow, the great avant-garde poet, saying, "I am chary (I particularly remember his use of this word) about mentioning these two in the same breath. They exist in different worlds. Writing is effective and public; meditation is private." Something like that.
But, one could argue, MacLow's writing was utterly private. He worked with chance operations and cut-up words, so that there was no intention or conventional communication in his work. He was never trying to say or describe anything. Still, he published copiously. Why?"
Norman discusses something a little different in his article - but it still feels deeply connected to how I feel about writing:
“…if you are a writer, you write. But here's the strange part: you write for the writing, you write alone and in silence, and you don't know if it does anyone any good-yet somehow you need a reader. This shouldn't be the case, but it is. Until there is a reader, some reader, any reader, the writing is incomplete. This is not true, for instance, with meditation practice or, say, with working out. You can run or bike or sit watching the breath without anyone ever witnessing it. It makes no difference whether someone witnesses or not. Because nothing comes of your running or sitting; there's nothing to share. But when you write you produce something that can be shared and somehow must be. You can't write without being read. This doesn't have to do with ambition or desire; it is built into the nature of writing..
….Years ago I went to the Wailing Wall in Jerusalem and did what all tourists there do: wrote some words on a scrap of paper that I tucked into a crevice in the wall. When I closed my eyes and touched my head to the warm stone, it came to me: “All language is prayer.” This must be so. Who is it we are speaking to when we speak to anyone? To that person, and also past him or her to Out There. If there is language, it means there is the possibility of being heard, being met, being loved. And reaching out to be heard, met, or loved is a holy act. Language is holy.”
What he says seems also connected to what we are doing here, on Gaia.
"..if there is language, it means there is the possibility of being heard, being met, and being loved."
Access: PublicTagged with: writing, Zoketsu Norman Fischer
I couldn't agree more, and I couldn't agree less - both is language, isn't it?
Actually meditation, Zen or, mind you, enlightenement would make a hoot of a sense without language. Actually even sense would make any…
Writers and thinkers and people wanting to leave language behind are maybe married to the thought (in language, of course) that there IS anything; but all is flow… just as in music, single letters (like notes) do not make sense - or at least not the sense a proper assembly of letters make, and then a well crafted constellation of words which must be written/read…. and only in the flow to they come alive.
Deaf people have language, blind people have language, dumb people have language. So yes, sometimes to be outside of the saying of anything is beautiful, part of the rythm of life. And then all of life is sacred and I would say, it is a language in itself which, sometimes, can even be understood.
No language, no enlightenment, no nothing, not even this…
I was going to say something, but after reading Mushin's comments my mind just shut up and couldn't come up with anything.
So will shake the head and try again. Writing freefall does feel so much like meditation. Not creating the words or thinking about words…but watching the words flow out like a waterfall or a river. It's as if one stares out in amazement at what the finger-tools create via some Universal force which can not be claimed by “me” or anyone. Every time I sit down and watch the writing writing itself, it's such a moment of awe and amazement. Where did this come from? And this? And this? Sometimes there's just laughter and joy, or sadness, or amazement…and it's just watching the words dance across the screen of the flowing.
I was going to say something, but after reading Mushin's comments my mind just shut up and couldn't come up with anything.
! Yes. to both of you.
Take this comment as an indication that I've read and appreciate, very much, your post and comments.
Words seem to be such a limitation for me. I could think of them as a picture frame but my picture exists not just in that space within the frame.
_/I\_
Words & symbols is such a great invention… one of my favorites in all of life. I want to help network this for others to read. Namasté
And ~KES calling my attention to this led me to see it is relevant here, too.
Language can indeed be a joy or a trap, a playful delight or a prison. Like most things we use, it all depends on our perspective.
Love, OM Bastet
Hey Sandra, congrats for being featured!
I use to wonder about this. I began writing when I was very young, and continued to do so during the most difficult times of my life. Many of the songs I wrote helped me work through life's difficulties, some very tragic at the time I experienced them. I am convinced that without my ability to write, I would not be alive today…most of my songs will never be heard, but they helped heal me.
Cool blog…joy to you, always, star…