In the beginning was the word…

A prayer for relief…

Is it possible? To put reality into words?

“Existence is beyond the power of words to define.” {Lao Tzu, Tao Te Ching, Witter Bynner version (1986)}

If we start from understanding that existence is beyond words, we run into the question, “What are words for?” Words exist; can words not define that fact?

What do we want ‘definitions’ for anyway? de fin = the end. Definitions kill.

I remember people saying, “We have to define our terms before we can discuss.” I always replied, “How can we define our terms without discussion?”

So, whatever else you want to say about words, you can see that they are perplexing to talk about. I venture down this rabbit hole to shake loose any notion that what we are talking about can be talked out.

Maybe, in fact, the only time we are truly talking is when what we are talking about cannot be talked out. {Goethe said something along these lines about ‘thinking’.}

**

Written words are deeply implicated in ‘law’, most centrally, court opinions. Strange that we call them ‘opinions’ because they are really edicts—words backed by violence.

The function of opinions coupled with violence is to create a reality. The creation process defines an enforced reality—a domination process.

“Between the idea and the reality of common meaning falls the shadow of the violence of law, itself.” {Robert M. Cover, “Violence and the Word,” Yale Law Journal 95, no. 8 (July 1986).}

Many excuses have been offered: Hobbes said domination—the violence of edicts—is “necessary” for people to live together because people can’t live together peacefully without being dominated; so for that reason they create a domination for themselves. Hobbes failed to explain how people in need of an enforced reality manage to get along peacefully enough to create their domination. That conundrum is generally ignored and the ‘necessity’ of law simply presumed. The domination system is self-reinforcing, self-referencing. Until we look behind the curtain.

**

“`I have no need to know,' Pilate responded in a stifled, angry voice, 'whether it is pleasant or unpleasant for you to speak the truth. You will have to speak it anyway. But, as you speak, weigh every word, unless you want a not only inevitable but also painful death.' …

'Answer, then,' he went on speaking, `do you know a certain Judas from Kiriath, and what precisely did you say to him about Caesar, if you said anything?' …

Yes,' Yeshua went on, slightly surprised that the procurator was so well informed, ‘[he] asked me to give my view of state authority. He was extremely interested in this question.'

'And what did you say?' asked Pilate. 'Or are you going to reply that you've forgotten what you said?' But there was already hopelessness in Pilate's tone.

`Among other things,' the prisoner recounted, `I said that all authority is violence over people, and that a time will come when there will be no authority of the Caesars, nor any other authority. Man will pass into the kingdom of truth and justice, where generally there will be no need for any authority.

Go on!'

'I didn't go on,' said the prisoner. 'Here men ran in, bound me, and took me away to prison.' …

'There never has been, is not, and never will be any authority in this world greater or better for people than the authority of the emperor Tiberius!' Pilate's cracked and sick voice swelled. … `And it is not for you, insane criminal, to reason about it!' Here Pilate shouted: 'Convoy, off the balcony!' And turning to the secretary, he added: 'Leave me alone with the criminal, this is a state matter!' …

'And the kingdom of truth will come?'

'It will, Hegemon,' Yeshua answered with conviction.

'It will never come!' Pilate suddenly cried out in such a terrible voice that Yeshua drew back. It will never come!' Pilate suddenly cried out in such a terrible voice that Yeshua drew back. …And then, lowering his voice, he asked: 'Yeshua Ha-Nozri, do you believe in any gods?'

'God is one,' replied Yeshua, 'I believe in him.'

‘Then pray to him! Pray hard! However...' here Pilate's voice gave out, 'that won't help. No wife?' Pilate asked with anguish for some reason, not understanding what was happening to him.

`No, I'm alone.'

'Hateful city...' the procurator suddenly muttered for some reason, shaking his shoulders as if he were cold, and rubbing his hands as though washing them…

A moment later [the convoy commander]… stood before the procurator. The procurator ordered him to hand the criminal over to the head of the secret service, along with the procurator's directive that Yeshua Ha-Nozri was to be separated from the other condemned men, and also that the soldiers of the secret service were to be forbidden, on pain of severe punishment, to talk with Yeshua about anything at all or to answer any of his questions.”

{Mikhail Bulgakov, The Master and Margarita (1928-1940), Translated by Richard Pevear and Larissa Volokhonsky, 1997}