03 Oct Koan 125

“He who speaks does not know, he who knows does not speak.” — Lao Tzu

He who speaks reveals a dot in a pointillist painting. He who knows does not speak as reality is a creation of infinite dots.

He who speaks conveys the now as a photo.

He who knows does not speak; for the now is an everchanging flow, like a movie.

A speaker’s words are like the finite and precise space inside a square. The endless and everchanging now is like the imprecise space inside a circle (a function of the transcendental number, π (pi)). He who knows knows a circle cannot be squared.

He who speaks does not know the now, as descriptions are empty; the now that’s described is now no longer.

He who knows the now does not speak, as the essence of the now is nothing.

He who speaks describes that which his consciousness creates; what his foveal vision carves out of peripheral vision.

He who knows knows peripheral vision eludes specific description.

He who speaks is in the now. He cannot grasp the now, as a hand cannot grasp itself.

He who knows does not speak as only from the silent space outside the now can one observe and ultimately come to know the now.

He who speaks is an actor in the play of life. For actors, the play is a tragedy; as every actor eventually dies.

He who knows is the audience. For the audience, the play is a comedy; wherein people take their selves seriously. He who laughs cannot speak.

He who knows delights in watching the play; an experience he cares not interrupt by speaking which would transition him from being the audience and into an actor.

Like speaking: “As soon as you have made a thought, laugh at it.” — Lao Tzu