Ken-wilber Quote by Ken Wilber
““As simple as that sounds, it is nevertheless extremely difficult to adequately discuss no-boundary awareness or nondual consciousness. This is because our language — the medium in which all verbal discussion must float — is a language of boundaries. As we have seen, words and symbols and thoughts themselves are actually nothing but boundaries, for whenever you think or use a word or name, you are already creating boundaries. Even to say "reality is no-boundary awareness" is still to create a distinction between boundaries and no-boundary! So we have to keep in mind the great difficulty involved with dualistic language. That "reality is no-boundary" is true enough, provided we remember that no-boundary awareness is a direct, immediate, and nonverbal awareness, and not a mere philosophical theory. It is for these reasons that the mystic-sages stress that reality lies beyond names and forms, words and thoughts, divisions and boundaries. Beyond all boundaries lies the real world of Suchness, the Void, the Dharmakaya, Tao, Brahman, the Godhead. And in the world of suchness, there is neither good nor bad, saint nor sinner, birth nor death, for in the world of suchness there are no boundaries.””
About This Quote
Source Book: Integral Spirituality, Ken Wilber, 2000
The quote explains that language creates boundaries, making it hard to discuss nondual, boundless awareness, which exists beyond concepts and distinctions.
In simple terms: Language limits our ability to describe boundless reality.
Recognize the limits of words and seek direct experience.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- meditation
- philosophical discussion
- spiritual practice
- teaching
- writing
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- How can you experience boundless awareness without relying on concepts?
- What practices help you move beyond dualistic thinking?
Words can never fully capture the ineffable nature of suchness.