verbalized statements about reality

From Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance by Robert M. Pirsig:


"He became aware that the doctrinal differences among Hinduism and Buddhism and Taoism are not anywhere near as important as doctrinal differences among Christianity and Islam and Judaism. Holy wards are not fought over them because verbalized statements about reality are never presumed to be reality itself.

In all of the Oriental religions great value is placed on the Sanskrit doctrine of Tat tvam asi, "Thou art that" which asserts that everything you think you are and everything you perceive are undivided. To realize fully this lack of division is to become enlightened."

(I'm not sure how historically accurate this statement is, but I like the part about reality and words. Words create worlds.)