Word Odyssey

How language influences our sense of self.

“Word Odyssey”, or adventures of word, this small phrase conveys a profound feeling. Do you realise that all the conflicts and disputes in the world are rooted in these “words”? You’ve most likely heard the story of Adam and Eve. In it, a tree of knowledge is mentioned, whose fruit Adam eats and becomes corrupted. This fruit of the tree of knowledge is none other than words and language. This is not just my assertion albeit renowned philosophers like Immanuel Kant, Noam Chomsky, Osho Rajneesh, and contemporary historian Yuval Noah Harari share similar views.

Word Odyssey by Magicthreadworks

Animals, without words, can only understand what is directly observable to them. Therefore, their understanding is limited to the tangible world. However, humans can comprehend abstract concepts like country, society, caste, and religion - all of which are difficult to understand and explain without words. This is why people who don’t know each other can unite under a shared purpose, simply by hearing a word or phrase, such as "Writers", "India," or "Christian". People connect with each other just by hearing these words, without needing further persuation.

These same words and labels also serve to divide people into "us" and "them." All

who share the same label as I become allies and rest becomes enemies. All conflicts in the world stem from these divisions. If this is true, a simple question arises — why did the universe give humans the immense power of words? Just to fight over labels? If we observe, the universe can only be understood through words. We can only imagine its true form. Yet, a single word allows us to grasp its entirety.

This understanding reveals that everything - trees, rain, animals, humans, gods, or mountains - is composed of the same fundamental unit, which scientists have ironically termed the "God particle." The universe wants humans to understand its complete and true form. For this purpose, humans were created, so that they could shed the labels and words they’ve been given and perceive themselves in their entirety, akin to the universe.

In reality, the universe calls upon us to embark on a journey of self-discovery, to understand that we are not separate from it. This is the true meaning of “Word Odyssey" - a journey of words that leads us to the ultimate truth.