Language and Suffering

A verbal label can represent a complex non verbal concept.
However it does not directly communicate its meaning.
So unless you already know what a "lyxdje" is - the word itself is meaningless.

This also comes into effect when considering words such as "time".
A particular style of communication has developed, wherein the user adopts language for the purpose of socialising, rather than using words to convey deeper concepts.
This style of casual labelling, while having the byproduct of maintaining social bonds, unfortunately also plays a significant role in eroding a real connection between labels and deeper meaning.

The example of "time" is interesting - when we think about the contrast between our everyday use of the word, and when we consider some rather unusual qualities of time experienced at various moments in our life.

Paradoxical qualities of the experience of time can be noted. However, I believe that these paradoxical effects are due to misunderstandings related to our use of the label itself, and not the quality therein of Time itself.

This can be summed up with the concept, "The description is not the described", or "The map is not the terrain"

Such ideas encourage us to look more deeply at the labels we use to define our experience. Our casual language style has become a wedge between our expectation and Reality, and I believe that this is a cause of tremendous suffering.

When we adopt real world systems that are based on casual language, then we setup an inevitable stage for frustration and conflict.

This issue was more apparent when dealing with a culture whose language differed to our own. We needed to be careful in our interpretation. Misunderstanding still happened, but it's almost taken as a given, that different languages and cultures will relate to the world in different ways.

However, when it comes to people speaking the same language (apparently), the tendency is to form opinions and factions, stimulating disagreements and arguments, and conflicts.

The mistake here is to believe that people want different things, and have different needs etc. So must be treated in different ways. Where in fact the only real difference is in how people are interpreting the labels we assume are common to all of us.

The education does not go deep enough. Merely teaching how to use labels, without understanding the deeper significance and meaning underlying the label, is irresponsible. This practice is responsible for creating a mass population of ignorant, frustrated and misunderstood people - this situation can only perpetuate further conflict and suffering.

To counter this, it becomes apparent that a rigorous re-education of oneself is necessary. Examining our use of labels and the meanings we've attributed to them. Clarifying our inner jargon, simplifying our communication, decluttering our mental baggage. Which in turn will reduce our personal suffering, and on a larger scale, will reduce the amount of conflict in the world.