We call things in our language 'padArtha'. That means literally word-meaning. in other words, things seem to take on an existence because we choose to identify and label them! What an advaitic thought indeed since we are imputing to ourselves the power of making our own reality. Whereas at one level it is true, in reality (!), we often substitute our words and concepts for the actual reality. It is a bit like a mathematical transform function that maps from one domain into another. In the process, the interrelationships and properties may change.
Sri Ramakrishna used to say that wringing an almanac which has a prediction of rainfall today does not produce rain drops!
I just came upon this quote:
'I am not so lost in lexicography as to forget that words are the daughters of earth, and that things are the sons of heaven.'- Samuel Johnson, in his preface to his Dictionary of the English Language.
The great man Johnson conveys how creation and existence precede our endeavours to label them with our words: ours is a very 'human' activity not shorn of sentiment (hence words are daughters!?)
Without words there would be no conversation, let alone thoughts.
And without thoughts man would either descend to animal status or rise to the fourth state of consciousness and become a meditative and radiant Buddha.
Wisdom begins where Knowledge ends.
