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The symbol stands, we may say, for something which cannot be known in any other way. A symbol, any symbol does not stand for something that can or that could be known in any other way other than through the symbol. But at this point I am going to say at least one thing, and that is: a symbol is not a sign. All I shall be doing is, with the cooperation of everybody present, to try just to evoke the symbols, to conjure up the symbols, so that you can see them, as it were, so that you can experience them even for yourselves. So in the course of the lectures, I shall allow as it were, the symbols to speak for themselves. The nature of a symbol itself precludes the possibility of any such attempt. But here again I am not going to attempt any formal definition of what a symbol is. What do we mean by a symbol? What do we mean by symbolism? These are very current terms, but ones which are often not very deeply understood. But what is a symbol? Many people are preoccupied with that question too. You as it were stumble over symbols at every step, and it is even of symbols, we may say that the Tantric path largely consists. In fact one may say that the whole Tantric path to Enlightenment is simply strewn with symbols. And the enacted or acted out symbols, which we call rituals. The sound symbols, which we call mantras.
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The form and colour symbols, for instance which we shall call images in the widest sense of the term. But this experience, this direct experience, above, and beyond words, above and beyond thought, above and beyond the conscious mind, even the conscious personality, can be evoked, can almost be conjured up, releasing some partial glimpse, some distant reflection with the help of symbols, symbols of various kinds. Concepts can give no idea of it whatsoever, cannot indicate it in any way, cannot lead one to it in any way. One might say existentially, metaphysically, transcendentally, and this experience, insofar as the Tantric Path is concerned, cannot be mediated by concepts. But at this point, at this stage one thing I will say, and it is this: the Tantra represents that aspect of Buddhism that is concerned not with theories, much less still with speculations, not with formal religiosity, not with external piety, but concerned with the direct experience, in the depths of one's being, as it were, of what one truly and essentially is. I hope to be able to communicate something, as it were, of the inner feeling of the Tantra or the feeling that is conveyed or that should be conveyed or suggested by this word 'Tantra'. What does one mean by the Tantric Path or one may ask what is the Tantra? People no doubt have all sorts of ideas, all sorts of understandings, even no doubt, all sorts of misunderstandings on this particular point, on this particular subject of the Tantra, and, this evening I don't want to attempt any formal definition. Lecture 103: The Symbolism of the Tibetan Wheel of Life
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