When something is beyond the ability of words to communicate it, how do you communicate it?

That is one of the bigger paradoxes to deal with in Taoism (Daoism). Several strategies are used:

Some say Tao (Dao) cannot be described, but it can be pointed toward with words.

Some say describing or pointing toward Tao is likely to get one off-course, and that the only way for someone to know Tao is to see it in action -- in nature, in meditation, or in the example or the actions of those with more connection to the Tao.

Some say not to worry about what Tao is and just live life as naturally as possible, respecting but not dwelling on the mystery and power of Tao.

In the Tao Te Ching (Dao De Jing), Lao Tzu (Laozi) repeatedly refers to the inability of language to capture the sense of Tao (all from the D.C. Lau translation):

from chapters 1, 5, 17, 23, 43, and 56

The consequences of too much talk are several: First, you will inevitably expose your ignorance or some point of contention with your listener(s). Second, you will run out of ways to explain something and end up contradicting yourself to some degree. And you will make your listeners resent you for knowing something they don't (or thinking you know something they don't), or even for taking up too much of their time. Since we seem to listen and comprehend best when we can integrate what we hear into our own experience and understanding, a Taoist tries not to crowd out that process with too many words, giving seconds, minutes, days, or even longer for something to sink in and be accepted. Ultimately, everyone has to develop their own sense of Tao, so description of it in Taoism is not so much an exercise in transmission as it is a catalyst to one's unique discovery process.

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