Tao that can be spoke of, not the eternal Tao.
Name that can be named, not the eternal name.
Nameless, the beginning of heaven and earth.
Named, mother of everything.
Desireless, sees the mystery.
Desiring, sees the manifestations.
These two, from the same source, differ in name; both are original.
Original of original, gate of all mystery.
~ Daode Jing verse 1 (translated by Tienzen Gong)
Now, just a very brief statement of the obvious: That which truly is unspeakable - which cannot possibly be articulated, in written or spoken word, in this universe or in any other - won't be.
Which means: we don't really have to worry about it. And it's quite unnecessary (and, I might suggest, rather indefensible) to apply censure and/or censorship in relation to this issue. Really, what could be more absurd?
In no way is this meant to negate the usefulness of the distinction between, on the one hand, language used in a way that embroils us ever more deeply in conceptual mind; and, on the other hand, language used in a way that at least has the potential of being a gateway into non-conceptual experience, i.e. "the unspeakable."
Nor is it meant to downplay the power and sweetness of silence: both external and internal; of simply bathing in the vibrancy of the moment, sans commentary.
Just a (semi-) humble observation that words, in and of themselves, are neither good nor bad; and to assume they have the power to sully something which is by definition beyond their purview, and which in the final evaluation constitutes their very essence, is just plain silly.
~ * ~
Maximus
God is older than the sun and moon
and the eye cannot behold him
nor voice describe him.
But a naked man, a stranger, leaned on the gate
with his cloak over his arm, waiting to be asked in.
So I called him: Come in, if you will! -
He came in slowly, and sat down by the hearth.
I said to him: And what is your name? -
He looked at me without answer, but such a loveliness
entered me, I smiled to myself, saying: he is a God!
So he said: Hermes!
God is older than the sun and moon
and the eye cannot behold him
nor the voice describe him:
and still, this is the God Hermes, sitting by my hearth.
~ D. H. Lawrence
More Words
Here's another translation of the first verse of the Daode Jing, attributed to the City University of Hong Kong (no individual author is named):
The Way (Tao) that can be told of is not an unvarying Way;
The name that can be given is not an unvarying name.
Nameless is the beginning of the World.
Named is the mother of the myriad creatures.
One experiences without Self to sense the World,
And experiences with Self to understand the World.
The two experiences are the same within Tao;
They are distinct only within the World.
Neither experience conveys Tao
Which is infinitely greater and more subtle than the World.