The Unspoken Truth: Why Dharma Must Be Lived, Not Explained

By Penny Louise

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Have you ever experienced a moment when words failed, but your heart understood completely? That’s Dharma at work. As I write blogs to share experiential advice and support others’ healing, I often struggle to articulate what I feel in my heart and have learned through life.

Someone once told me it’s difficult to write words that speak to the soul because Dharma—the truth, the way, the natural law—transcends language. As the Tao states:

“The Tao that can be spoken is not the eternal Tao.”

Dharma is profoundly hard to communicate, which is why Zen stories and parables exist. These narratives beautifully convey lessons through heartfelt, thought-provoking examples. I have been deeply transformed by Zen stories, not through their logic but by the way they resonate with the heart. For instance, the Zen story “A Portrait of Peace” allowed me to truly feel the essence of peace, something no explanation had ever accomplished.

1. Dharma Transcends Language

Dharma deals with experiential truths rather than intellectual concepts. Language, by nature, is limited to describing objects, ideas, and emotions in a way that the mind can comprehend. Dharma, however, points to truths that must be experienced directly, often through meditation or mindful practice, making it challenging to fully capture in words.

I’ve found this to be true in my own life. Advice from teachers only resonated deeply when I personally experienced its truth. It was this integration of knowledge into my being that changed my thoughts and behaviour.

Practice

Sit in silence for 5 minutes. Let go of any urge to describe your thoughts or feelings in words. Focus on experiencing the present moment fully—beyond labels, beyond language. Notice what arises when you simply feel without trying to explain. Perhaps you have a subject in mind to contemplate. Try and do the same with the feeling of the subject on not the language you put to it.

2. Dharma is Beyond Dualities

Dharma often addresses the nature of existence in non-dualistic terms, which can be hard for people accustomed to binary thinking (good/bad, right/wrong, self/other). Concepts like emptiness (śūnyatā) or non-attachment defy straightforward explanation because they operate outside the usual framework of human understanding.

This is a personal belief of mine, but what makes the most sense to me is that we are non-dualistic spiritual beings from a non-dualistic universe, operating on a dualistic planet trying to gain full self-awareness (God trying to realise itself). To simplify a complex thought: it makes sense that it is difficult to change the mindset of the only reality we are aware of in the material world in order to understand Dharma.

Practice

Choose a moment in your day where you feel strongly about something being “good” or “bad.” Pause and ask yourself: “What happens if I let go of judgment? Can I observe this moment as it is—neither right nor wrong, just part of life?”

Reflection Question:

How does your experience shift when you remove the need to label events or emotions as positive or negative?

3. Individual Experience is Central

Each person's path to understanding Dharma is unique. The teachings are often metaphorical or situational, designed to guide practitioners to their own realisations rather than impose a one-size-fits-all doctrine. This means that what resonates with one person might not with another, making it difficult to generalise or communicate universally.

We are complex beings, each a unique expression of the divine. If universal answers existed, humanity would have discovered them long ago.

If we could get the answers now and in the same way, we would have figured it out a long time ago!

Reflection Exercise:

Think of a teaching, quote, or piece of advice you’ve heard many times. Ask yourself: “How can I apply this in my life today to experience its truth directly?” Write about one moment when a lesson resonated deeply through your lived experience, not just your mind.

4. Dharma Challenges Ego and Comfort

Dharma often asks us to confront uncomfortable truths about impermanence, suffering, and the non-self (anattā). This can create resistance, as these ideas challenge deeply held beliefs and attachments. Communicating concepts that provoke discomfort or cognitive dissonance requires great skill and sensitivity.

Be sure to read other posts on learning how to come to radical honesty with yourself to free yourself from the comforts of the ego. Once you move through this process, you find new comfort in the liberation that comes with truth.

Practical Insight:

Notice a recurring discomfort in your life—perhaps an attachment to an outcome, a habit, or a limiting belief. Ask: “What truth am I avoiding here? What would radical honesty look like in this moment?”

Actionable Step:

Take one small step to face this discomfort—whether it’s journaling your fears, having a difficult conversation, or sitting with an uncomfortable truth without judgment.

5. Dharma is Counterintuitive

Many Dharma teachings go against instinctive human tendencies. For example:

• Happiness is found in letting go, not accumulating.

• Suffering is alleviated by accepting impermanence, not resisting it.

• There is no fixed self, despite our strong sense of identity.

• Healing is achieved by shedding what you are not, and not by adding to who you are.
  

These truths require a paradigm shift, which isn’t easily conveyed through logic alone.

This process feels like un-learning what it means to be alive. We step away from the limits of humanity into the infinite space of the spiritual body.

Reflection Exercise:

Choose one counterintuitive teaching that resonates with you, such as:

• “Letting go brings peace.”

• “Accepting impermanence reduces suffering.”

For one day, practice embodying this truth intentionally. Let go of one expectation or attachment and observe the lightness it brings.

Reflect:

Ask yourself: "What shifted in me when I leaned into this idea?”

6. Cultural and Contextual Differences

Dharma has been interpreted and expressed through the lens of various cultures over centuries. Some teachings are steeped in the cultural context of ancient India, China, Japan, or Southeast Asia, making them harder to relate to for modern audiences without thoughtful reinterpretation.

What is truly beautiful, however, is how despite the distance and separation by language, many teachings parallel each other, again confirming that Dharma is beyond language.

Practical Insight:

Read a short Zen story, parable, or teaching from a culture different from your own (e.g., The Chinese Farmer or a teaching on Śūnyatā). Reflect: “What does this story reveal to me about truth, beyond cultural differences?”

7. Dharma Requires Practice, Not Just Understanding

Dharma is meant to be lived and practiced, not merely understood intellectually. Explaining it is like describing the taste of sugar to someone who’s never tasted sweetness—it can only be truly known through direct experience.

What I offer in my online course is the ability to learn how to recognise life so that practice becomes intentional, and you can find understanding through your own experiences.

Actionable Practice:

Commit to 5 minutes of meditation or mindfulness today. Focus on one of these:

• Observing your breath.

• Letting go of thoughts.

• Feeling gratitude for the present moment.

At the end, reflect: “What did I experience beyond what I can put into words?” Remind yourself that understanding comes through consistent practice, not just theory.

8. Teachers' Styles Vary

Even within Buddhism, teachers communicate Dharma differently based on their traditions, audiences, and personal insights. This diversity can be enriching but also adds layers of complexity for those trying to understand it in a unified way.

The search for truth and resonance is difficult, and persistence on the spiritual path is not easy. What inspires others may not inspire you, but in the process of learning from teachers and moving on from them, you find yourself.

Reflection Exercise:

Think about a teaching or lesson you’ve heard from multiple sources. Compare how each teacher’s style influenced you. Ask:

• “What did I learn from Teacher A? What did I learn from Teacher B?”

• “How did their unique approaches help me uncover my own truth?”

Write about how your personal journey has been shaped by exploring diverse perspectives.

Final Thought

The beauty of Dharma lies in its experiential nature. While it may be challenging to communicate in words, its essence becomes clear through dedicated practice and self-inquiry. As the Buddha himself said:

“The Dhamma is to be seen by oneself, timeless, inviting investigation, leading inward, to be experienced individually by the wise.”

This quote highlights that the difficulty in communication isn’t a flaw but an invitation to go beyond words and into personal realisation.

Truth can only be fully known through experience. Choose one of the exercises above and bring it into your life this week. Notice how the wisdom of Dharma unfolds within you, beyond words.

Invitation to Deepen Your Journey

If you’re ready to deepen your journey, my online course is designed to help you:

• Break free from dualistic thinking.

• Let go of ego and find liberation in radical honesty.

• Move from intellectual understanding into direct experience.

  
  

You can learn to embody these lessons in a way that transforms your thoughts, patterns, and life. Join me, and let’s walk this path toward clarity and self-realisation—one step at a time.

Start Journey

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