Consider the Dominance of the Written Over the Verbal
The following recordings are from Jan’s final years, when his voice was diminished and he spoke in a low whisper. Some listeners may find these tapes hard to listen to, or difficult to understand. Thus, as another option, transcripts are being made and will be posted.
Otherwise, turn up the volume and enjoy! Those who carefully listened to Jan during this period consider that he spoke plainly and directly to the matter at hand, “pulling out all the stops,” as he understood that these were to be his last messages to his groups, and to posterity.
Summary = See below
Condensed News = See below
News Item Gallery = None
Transcript = None
Key Words =
Summary
4/13/05:
Notes by TK
The verbal is not fully existent, not fully active, fully affecting and participatory in reality until it is written down. Verbally created bylaws of a club, say, aren’t bylaws; they must appear in written form to be in force. Consider the importance in modern society of books, the emphasis on the reading of books.
Consider the power of the printed word. Why does it have such importance? The written has instant, complete superiority and dominance over the verbal. Words on paper have more significance than uttered words. It is the mind making itself manifest as primary reality v. the secondary. No consciousness w/o talk; no talk w/o the printed word. Consciousness has a concern for the stability and substantiality of words. (40:53) #3286
Jan’s Daily Fresh Real News (to accompany this talk)
THERE IS AN INNER FLOOD IN WHICH THE ORDINARY LIVE
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
The Secret Swimmer’s Guide To An Above-Water Reality
APRIL 13, 2005 © 2005: JAN COX
The ordinary mind cannot grasp the fact that when you talk about the past,
even physical events, you are not talking about anything real –
the matter you speak of may have actually occurred but your words about it now
are something else entirely and something that is not substantial. This is that sort of subtle juncture that completely eludes men of routine consciousness.
If you don’t pay willful attention you don’t realize that you don’t pay attention.
An inner cosmologist pondered: “Could a planet so dislike its natural orbit
as to rebel against the center of its own solar system?”
Aka: Can two percent of your consciousness unseat the authority of
the other ninety-eight percent? Only he who tries knows.
The sounds heard in the forum – even of proclaimed extraordinary information –
are but routine city noise.
Any inclination to write one’s biography is a sure sign of either impending death,
or final acceptance of a life misspent as a dunderhead.
Those who ask an artist: “What does it mean?” have not the slightest conception of
the creative urge (among other things).
Being exposed is okay – confessing is not.
In the ordinary life of man, the belief that you are free is as good as being free,
(since that is as good as it is going to get).
Without originality of thought, mind drowns in words.
There is no more certain way for the would-be rebel to destroy his self
than by talking about his self.
One day in a fit of pique, local conditions in one spot spat at the creatures in its charge: “Men don’t change – everyone stays true to their genes.”
(This outburst did them no harm since they lived in the illusion of free will.)
The nervous-system both leads men to act and to think-about-acting;
it knows the difference; men have trouble distinguishing between the two.
The reason people speak so passionately about efforts at self improvement
is because the stakes are so low.
On one world their eleventh commandment is:
“Thou shalt not confess.”
Both hormones and neurons can save your life; the former through acting,
the latter through thinking;
a number of humans have always enjoyed confusing their two talents.
Cripples dream of someday dancing through the chanting of a mystic word;
it’s free –
it’s fun –
it doesn’t hurt anybody – and who’s to say that dreams cannot come true.
Matters that make terrible hats can be turned into quite useful shoes.
Once you grasp the reality behind what men consider to be their uniquely
human problems, the notion of finding solutions is forgotten.
One guy says the most satisfying hobby he has yet found is not-talking-about-his-self.
Once you taste the extraordinary – you must never let it go.
If the light is always in the wrong place – you may be in the wrong place.
There comes a strange emancipation,
with that secret elucidation.
Sheep confess – wolves do not.
What visible authority could ever be infallible other than one that doesn’t give a damn.
Question: Why is wishful thinking condemned in the city when it is built on such?
A chap contemplated: “If you don’t periodically say your name –
how will you know you’re there?”
(A view of the ordinary — and not the rebel.)
For those who can read Life, there is nothing more fascinating than
men’s explanations of matters in their inner-only reality.
What is more mentally salient: things hot, or things cold?
Just saying: “It won’t help” – won’t help.
One man says he finally agrees that long ago and far away,
things were older, and more distant.
One explorer says that the greatest thrill of extreme inner travel is in
meeting people who would normally be un-meetable.
(He refers to it as: “turning-hot-on-yourself.”)
J