Conversations For Transformation: Essays Inspired By The Ideas Of Werner Erhard

Conversations For Transformation

Essays By Laurence Platt

Inspired By The Ideas Of Werner Erhard

And More

Last Word

Napa Valley, California, USA

January 4, 2002


This essay is the first in a group of eight on Language:
  1. Last Word
  2. Speaking Of Freedom
  3. Constituted In Language
  4. Zen Bland
  5. Source Of Zen Bland: Hand Grasps Itself?
  6. Linguistic Acts
  7. Language: The Scalpel Of Experience
  8. Wordsmith
in that order.


I once led a seminar in Cape Town, South Africa. The topic of conversation turned to transformation. People asked how transformation happens - literally, where does transformation show up?  Some said transformation happens "in the mind". A couple said transformation only happens "in a pure nervous system". One guy said transformation is "a positive psychological state". A woman said she knew transformation when she experienced it but she couldn't say with certainty how it happens ie where it comes from.

I said to them "There's nothing worth believing in what I'm about to say, so just try this on for size: Transformation shows up in ... my ... mouth. Transformation happens in my language and in my speaking. And when I'm no longer speaking transformation, then I'm no longer transformed.".

In an earlier, health conscious time, it was said "You are what you eat.". I also heard it said in a later, wealth conscious time "You are what you wear.". I would like to propose, instead - for today and for the future - "You are what you speak.".

This is the timeless gift of transformation: in the beginning (and in the end), The Word ...


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