Let Go of Labels

 

Let Go of Labels

By becoming attached to names and forms, not realizing that they have no more basis than the activities of the mind itself, error arises and the way to emancipation is blocked.

—The Buddha, "Absolute Relativity"

This is from Tricycle Community and I question it in one sense of the phrase. As a birder I use a lot of labels, Northern Junco, Chestnut-backed Chickadee, Rough-legged Hawk, for example. These are the names of birds and by knowing these names, which are assigned formally by an organization of ornithologists, I can do certain things which I could not do otherwise. I can tell a fellow about observations of a particular species of bird because we both know which species goes with which name. I can learn from my observations of birds because I have a specific label which I can apply to the birds I am observing. Because I know the name of a bird, I can combine my observations of that bird and begin to know what birds to expect in a particular locale and how they make their living. This kind of knowledge enriches my enjoyment of my avocation.

I know that some labels lead to stereotyping and incorrect assumptions but others lead deeper understanding. If I say that a bird is a Yellow-rumped Warbler, I am on my way to more knowledge but if I say that it is an insect eater I am misleading myself and others because it is also a seed eater.