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Overview
This book is a compilation of sayings useful to understanding Eastern thought and General Semantics. The agreement between General Semantics and Eastern philosophy is profound, illuminating, and deepens the understanding of both. For instance, the expressions, �The description is not the described,� and, �The thought is not the thing,� are found in both Eastern philosophy and General Semantics. Both systems arrive at reality as nonverbal, silent, and beyond comprehension with thought. This despite the fact that one is spiritual and one is atheistic. Two entirely different approaches arriving at the same ultimate conclusions is exciting and enlightening.
If you are not familiar with Eastern thought, the word �nothing� can have a profoundly positive meaning. For instance, �nothing� can mean the unknowable creative source of everything. Eastern philosophy has two major divisions; one that has gods, and one that has a void instead of gods. The word �nothing� in this book often refers to this invisible, unfathomable, and all-powerful Eastern void. The word �void� is also to be considered positive in the Eastern philosophy sense. Perhaps, because of the negative connotations of the words �void� or �nothing�, the Western mind would do better to think of �positive pure-energy� in place of void and nothing.
The word �nothing� in this book can have many meanings other than zero: emptiness, empty space, formless energy, God, invisible power, no thing, no things as referents, no thoughts, no thoughts as referents, no thoughts being what they only represent, not thinging, self as space, the creative source, the ineffable, the life force, the nature of being, the positive Eastern void, the way of life. Try considering the word �nothing� as a shortened form of the two words �not thinging�!
The word �something� in this book mainly refers to: conceptualizing, concretizing, ideas, images, labels, making thoughts into reality, names, objectifying, reification, some thought, some thought-thing, terms, thingifying, thought as delusion, thought as illusion, thought pretending to be the real, thoughts as what they represent, thought-things, treating thoughts as things. Try considering the word �something� as a shortened form of the two words �some thought-thing�!
For the convenience of our readers, a PDF of the alternate meanings for nothing and something can be downloaded for printing here: Alternative meanings for nothing and something.
You will find the sayings herein amusing, helpful, interesting, and thought provoking. Many of the sayings are like Zen koans; if you sit with them, they reveal the other side free of words. Many of the sayings are open to multiple interpretations and meanings. New meanings will arrive on different journeys through the book. The same insight shared different ways helps you not to miss deeper felt experiences for simple surface meanings. It often happens that a slight change in wording allows someone to drop their mind long enough to hear something fresh. One person�s, �that�s obvious,� is another person�s �ah-ha� moment. One saying that opens you to the beyond is worth the entire book. Let the sayings pass that don�t open to you now. Focus on the sayings that bring stillness. Listen beyond the words. Feel, rather than think, the sayings through. Sense, rather than think, the music behind the words.
Enjoy the simultaneous double and triple meanings of �nothing�. Enjoy reading the same saying different ways for different meanings. First read �nothing� as no thing. Then read �nothing� as living void. Enjoy the play on words that contrasting �nothing� and �something� often makes. Consider the meanings that you find to be found, and not necessarily the right or perfect meanings for everyone. Forget the author�s intended meanings and discover your own. Take to heart the sayings and insights you want and leave the rest to ferment. One might remember the work of Ansel Adams, photographic artist. He was able to use form to let the formless shine through. In this same mode, the author�s sayings are forms intended to reveal the formless. In other words, don�t get lost in the words. Instead, go for the sensing, feeling, perceiving, experiencing, behind and beyond the words. Wake up from word sleep. Wake up from self-talk stupor.
Two reading suggestions. One, you will understand more if you read �nothing� as two words �no thing� or �not thing� and �something� as two words �some thing� or �some thought-thing�.
If you are not familiar with Eastern thought, the word �nothing� can have a profoundly positive meaning. For instance, �nothing� can mean the unknowable creative source of everything. Eastern philosophy has two major divisions; one that has gods, and one that has a void instead of gods. The word �nothing� in this book often refers to this invisible, unfathomable, and all-powerful Eastern void. The word �void� is also to be considered positive in the Eastern philosophy sense. Perhaps, because of the negative connotations of the words �void� or �nothing�, the Western mind would do better to think of �positive pure-energy� in place of void and nothing.
The word �nothing� in this book can have many meanings other than zero: emptiness, empty space, formless energy, God, invisible power, no thing, no things as referents, no thoughts, no thoughts as referents, no thoughts being what they only represent, not thinging, self as space, the creative source, the ineffable, the life force, the nature of being, the positive Eastern void, the way of life. Try considering the word �nothing� as a shortened form of the two words �not thinging�!
The word �something� in this book mainly refers to: conceptualizing, concretizing, ideas, images, labels, making thoughts into reality, names, objectifying, reification, some thought, some thought-thing, terms, thingifying, thought as delusion, thought as illusion, thought pretending to be the real, thoughts as what they represent, thought-things, treating thoughts as things. Try considering the word �something� as a shortened form of the two words �some thought-thing�!
For the convenience of our readers, a PDF of the alternate meanings for nothing and something can be downloaded for printing here: Alternative meanings for nothing and something.
You will find the sayings herein amusing, helpful, interesting, and thought provoking. Many of the sayings are like Zen koans; if you sit with them, they reveal the other side free of words. Many of the sayings are open to multiple interpretations and meanings. New meanings will arrive on different journeys through the book. The same insight shared different ways helps you not to miss deeper felt experiences for simple surface meanings. It often happens that a slight change in wording allows someone to drop their mind long enough to hear something fresh. One person�s, �that�s obvious,� is another person�s �ah-ha� moment. One saying that opens you to the beyond is worth the entire book. Let the sayings pass that don�t open to you now. Focus on the sayings that bring stillness. Listen beyond the words. Feel, rather than think, the sayings through. Sense, rather than think, the music behind the words.
Enjoy the simultaneous double and triple meanings of �nothing�. Enjoy reading the same saying different ways for different meanings. First read �nothing� as no thing. Then read �nothing� as living void. Enjoy the play on words that contrasting �nothing� and �something� often makes. Consider the meanings that you find to be found, and not necessarily the right or perfect meanings for everyone. Forget the author�s intended meanings and discover your own. Take to heart the sayings and insights you want and leave the rest to ferment. One might remember the work of Ansel Adams, photographic artist. He was able to use form to let the formless shine through. In this same mode, the author�s sayings are forms intended to reveal the formless. In other words, don�t get lost in the words. Instead, go for the sensing, feeling, perceiving, experiencing, behind and beyond the words. Wake up from word sleep. Wake up from self-talk stupor.
Two reading suggestions. One, you will understand more if you read �nothing� as two words �no thing� or �not thing� and �something� as two words �some thing� or �some thought-thing�.
Product Details
| BN ID: | 2940012884329 |
|---|---|
| Publisher: | FitzMaurice Publishers |
| Publication date: | 06/23/2011 |
| Sold by: | Barnes & Noble |
| Format: | NOOK Book |
| File size: | 3 MB |
About the Author
Kevin Everett FitzMaurice, M.S. is a Nationally Certified Counselor (NCC), a nationally Certified Clinical Mental Health Counselor (CCMHC), and a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) with over 20 years of experience in the counseling field. Mr. FitzMaurice was a certified drug and alcohol counselor for 8 years, and has been the director of 2 community mental health programs. Kevin is the author of 15 books, the producer of a TV series on mental health, has made several radio show appearances, and has provided numerous training workshops for other therapists and agencies. In 1976, Kevin moved to Omaha, Nebraska to help found a soup kitchen for the homeless. Today, that soup kitchen has grown into a series of facilities for the homeless that are providing food, clothing, shelter, and jobs to both individuals and families.