The Tao described in words is not the real Tao. Words cannot describe it. -Lao Tzu.
"A finger pointing at the moon is not the moon itself.
Words cannot describe reality." -Buddha.
Dighanakha asked the Buddha, “Gautama, what is your teaching? What are your doctrines? ...For my own part, I dislike all doctrines and theories. I don’t subscribe to any at all.” The Buddha smiled and asked, “Do you subscribe to your doctrine of not following any doctrines? Do you believe in your doctrine of not-believing?”...Somewhat taken aback, Dighanakha replied, “Gautama, whether I believe or don’t believe is of no importance.” The Buddha spoke gently, “Once a person is caught by belief in a doctrine, he loses all his freedom. When one becomes dogmatic, he believes his doctrine is the only truth and that all other doctrines are heresy. Disputes and conflicts all arise from narrow views. They can extend endlessly, wasting precious time and sometimes even leading to war. Attachment to views is the greatest impediment to the spiritual path. Bound to narrow views, one becomes so entangled that it is no longer possible to let the door of truth open…..Thinking that we already possess the truth, we will be unable to open our minds to receive the truth, even if truth comes knocking at our door.” Dighanakha asked, “But what of your own teaching? If someone follows your teaching will he become caught in narrow views?” ....“My teaching is not a doctrine or a philosophy. It is not the result of discursive thought or mental conjecture like various philosophies which contend that the fundamental essence of the universe is fire, water, earth, wind, or spirit, or that the universe is either finite or infinite, temporal, or eternal. Mental conjecture and discursive thought about truth are like ants crawling around the rim of a bowl, they never get anywhere. My teaching is not a philosophy. It is the result of direct experience. The things I say come from my own experience. You can confirm them all by your own experience....I teach that all things are impermanent and without a separate self. This I have learned from my own direct experience. You can too. I teach that all things depend on all other things to arise, develop, and pass away. Nothing is created from a single, original source. I have directly experienced this truth, and you can also. My goal is not to explain the universe, but to help guide others to have a direct experience of reality. Words cannot describe reality. Only direct experience enables us to see the true face of reality.” Dighanakha exclaimed, “Wonderful, wonderful, Gautama! But what would happen if a person did perceive your teaching as a dogma?”
- The Buddha was quiet for a moment and then nodded his head. “Dighanakha, that is a very good question. My teaching is not a dogma or a doctrine, but no doubt some people will take it as such. I must state clearly that my teaching is a method to experience reality and not reality itself, just as a finger pointing at the moon is not the moon itself. An intelligent person makes use of the finger to see the moon. A person who only looks at the finger and mistakes it for the moon will never see the real moon. My teaching is a means of practice, not something to hold onto or worship. My teaching is like a raft used to cross the river. Only a fool would carry the raft around after he had already reached the other shore, the shore of liberation.
Zen master Thich Nhat Hanh.
May peace be with all.
