John Dunne: Unsaying, Not Knowing, and Pointing at the Moon: Language and Non-dual Practice (Part 1 of 8)
Summary: Series Description: For the non-dual traditions of Buddhism, to use language is to be necessarily dualistic, yet language can also induce non-dual experience. How is this possible? Over the course of this weekend, we will explore the dual role that language can play as both an obstacle and a vehicle for non-dual realization. The inherently social aspects of language, and its corresponding capacity to link embodied minds, will be one focus, and another will be the surprising forms of language that undo language itself, often through an act of “unsaying.” We will likewise explore the way that these uses of language serve not to reinforce what we know, but to induce a particular kind of non-knowing. Philosophy, poetry, conversation, and meditation practice will be woven throughout this weekend of exploration.<br> Episode Description: In the introductory session of the program, John Dunne starts to explore how language is used in the non-dual Buddhist philosophical traditions in particular and poetic ways that take into account suspicions toward the trap conceptuality and language in general. He says, “you sometimes have to take philosophy and go all the way to the end of philosophy before you’re ready for non-dual practice…that might be true for a lot of westerners because we’re so much in our heads.”<br> To help keep these podcasts freely available, we hope you will consider making a suggested donation of $25 to our <a title="Give to Upaya's Dharma Podcast Fund" href="https://www.upaya.org/give/fund.php?id=10" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Dharma Podcast Fund</a>.<br> <br> To access the entire series, please click on the link below:<br><br> <a title="John Dunne Upaya Podcast Series: Language and Non-dual Practice" href="https://www.upaya.org/2018/04/dunne-language-nondual-practice-series-8-parts/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">John Dunne Upaya Podcast Series: Language and Non-dual Practice</a><br>
