Cutting the flux/Découper le flux

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Cutting the flux/Découper le flux

« Quand nous conceptualisons, nous découpons et nous fixons, en éliminant tout ce que nous n’avons pas fixé. Un concept désigne un ‘cela-et-rien-d’autre.’ « 

« When we conceptualize, we cut and fix, eliminating everything that we have not fixed. A concept designates a ‘this-and-nothing-else.’ « 

— William James, « A Pluralistic Universe » (Un univers pluraliste)

By | 2015-10-02T19:52:38+00:00 mars 1st, 2007|Textes|4 Comments

About the Author:

Enseignante Zen et poète, Sensei Amy “Tu es cela” Hollowell est née et a grandi à Minneapolis, aux Etats-Unis. Arrivée en France en 1981 pour étudier la littérature et l’histoire, elle y est restée, s’installant à Paris, où elle élève ses deux enfants et gagne sa vie en tant que journaliste. The Zen teacher and poet Amy “Tu es cela” Hollowell Sensei was born and raised in Minneapolis, but came to France in 1981 to study literature and history and has lived in Paris ever since, raising her two children and making a living as a journalist.

4 Comments

  1. Tu es cela 8 mai 2007 at 22 h 13 min - Reply

    We can also say "the perfect way" — where everything is just as it is. This "way" is right here.
    A classic Zen poem begins,
    "The perfect way is not difficult,
    It just dislikes picking and choosing."
    So indeed it is easy when you experience "tu es cela" (you are that), everything in its place (no tension), here and now.
    Of course we do not always experience it as thus.
    Nonetheless, it is so.
    There is no life apart from living, no living apart from life.
    We have nothing special to do but be here now.

  2. little lake 7 mai 2007 at 10 h 25 min - Reply

    thank you for your commentaire.
    Never heard of ‘the middle way’
    It must be easy pour ‘Tu es cela’!
    To me it is like a feeling of the right tension: no tension. Life is living itself.

  3. Tu es cela 28 avril 2007 at 17 h 44 min - Reply

    Indeed! In fact, it is much easier to just be (and requires no effort) than it is to not just be, which requires great effort. This is what in Buddhism is referred to as « the middle way, » or what I call « passing by the either/or. » See Joyce « beholding » entry above…

  4. little lake 19 avril 2007 at 22 h 27 min - Reply

    In visual terms:
    The beginning of concept is the making of "gestalts".
    Creating foreground and background. Only interested in foreground losing touch with background.
    When we realy observe completely, foreground and background are on one level. This is the point where two opposites become both sides of the same coin. The point of no rejection. The silent point.
    Upon this fundament we create storylevel ( categorische imperatief Kant) and abstract level. Only interested in storylevel. Losing touch with abstract level.
    How difficult it is just to observe, not to force/construct anything in this way…
    How difficult it is just to be…

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