metaphor is an important tool of worldmaking. a metaphor is an analogy. the Greek (μεταφορά) metaphorá means "transfer," to "carry over." a metaphor is more forceful (active) than an analogy, because metaphor asserts two things are alike, whereas analogy implies a difference.
miracles? myths? all metaphors. if we see it that way, it helps see the world as a construction.
for instance, imagine thoughts as autonomous agents, with posture and dignity (i.e, they understand their place and time). they are produced by our brains, but they have a sort of independent existence.
was zero discovered or invented?
why is this helpful? imagine a new violin. the sound of a new violin is pretty dull. it needs playing. the playing "cures" the wood. after years of playing, the inside (resonance box) becomes aware!
back to eastern philosophy: in the taittiriya upanishad the body is presented as the first of many layers that surround the human personality, each less physical than the one before. like an onion. as one peels layers upon layers, one gets more subtle, more independent and more dependent. more particular and yet, more general.
the core is the atman. the ONE.
w'll be looking at this metaphor for some time.
the core is the atman. the ONE.
w'll be looking at this metaphor for some time.
1 comment:
Interesting post. If I understood it, you're kind of saying, (using the example of a metaphor in contrast to anything that might be stressing the differences) that we can all, whether in action or even cognitively do our part to unify everything. I resonate with the idea in the sense that it is inspiring to think of our conscious experience as a series of oneness. If we see everything as just coming out to a state of revelation (like your example of thoughts being independant), then in essence all is one--there are just different levels of concealment. With the development of science we actually see how all of the universe as we know it is really made up of the same "stuff"---atoms. And even further, subatomic particles. Just a question I'd like to pose: How can we apply such a concept in our lives? I mean, it's nice to think that reality is that way, but when there is suffering on a small or large scale, how do we see this oneness? Is it a matter of convincing ourselves, similar to a religious conviction?
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