Defining The Ineffable | The Dao

"Only words and conventions can isolate us from the entirely undefinable something which is everything." Alan Watts

At first glance, to the human mind, reality appears to be constructed of signs. That is, as a process of making sense of the world we live in, we ascribe relative meaning to its complexities based on representations which we can collectively understand. Language, for example, makes use of compartmentalizing meaning into arbitrary, but practical symbols, allowing us a platform to connect. Words give us the ability to express ourselves and understand others in greater detail. They are paved paths for building meaningful relationships and cooperating on a mass scale. However, while symbols are incredibly important for practical communication, expression, in itself, lacks the ability to mirror the intention of its source. Consider how difficult it can be to describe the way you feel. No matter what words you choose to string together, you realize that none of them can capture the true essence of emotion. This is because the inner-workings of consciousness do not operate on the structure of language-- there is something deeper and more profound occurring; something indescribable which lies at the core of what is able to be perceived.

Hi, I’m David Connor. Well, that’s just the label that’s used to identify me. I have always been awe-struck and deeply perplexed by the mysterious inner-workings of the universe. My fascination with studies of philosophy, psychology and communication has led me on the journey of digging deeper into the wonder of existence. I created this blog, Expressions of the Ineffable, to share diverse aspects of human philosophy in terms that can universally apply to help direct our gaze toward something deeper, closing in on the meaning of that which is ultimately inexpressible.

In Daoism, the concept of the “Dao” helps to illustrate the nature of the “Ineffable” that I’m referring to: “The Dao which can be named cannot be the true Dao.” So if we can’t name the true Dao, then how are we supposed to construct an understanding of what it really is? Turns out that the word, in itself, is an expression that was created to describe the very essence of the inexpressible. By stating that the true Dao is beyond definition, it points out that the action of naming is not an attachment to an object, but rather to a perception. It suggests that expression is limited to the confinement of how things appear, not how they truly are. You are not your name; that is just a symbol to represent your appearance. Even your reflection in the mirror is merely an appearance, a perception within a single point of space and time. The Dao reflects the very nature of linguistic representation, acting as a symbol which points toward that which lies beyond its own descriptive insufficiency: “The Way of the Cosmos.” It is not a particular thing, but rather the totality of all things. After all, in order for there to be “things” at all, we must perceive and define them as separate from everything else; breaking apart the essence of what truly is.

Daoism teaches that human life can be improved by removing structure and unlearning artificial behaviors so that we can attain a personal alignment with natural order-- to harmonize within the song of the universe. It illustrates that the human desire to construct a stairway to the infinite is the source of suffering and separation; just like the story of the Tower of Babel from the Old Testament where as a result of attempting to build a tower that could reach God, they were cursed with scattered dialects. The Ineffable cannot be captured by grasping, like the horizon which can never be reached by running toward it. Like a Chinese finger trap toy, the harder you try to escape, the more you struggle. But once you stop trying to "get somewhere" and let go, you'll see that you were your own captor all along. Understanding the Dao helps us make sense of our perceptions and how they relate to the bigger picture. The path to the Ineffable is not walked by foot, but explored within. It is to look at the ground and realize that the horizon is always right there with you; all it takes is a shift of perspective.