Don't Confuse the Finger for the Moon
Sunday, October 21, 2007
The process I experienced and describe in my post "The Eye" (below) is also known as "skillful means" in Buddhist terms.
From Buddhanet's "Four Noble Truths":
From Buddhanet's "Four Noble Truths":
The path is a process to help you remove or move beyond the conditioned responses that obscure your true nature. In this sense the Path is ultimately about unlearning rather than learning - another paradox. We learn so we can unlearn and uncover. The Buddha called his teaching a Raft. To cross a turbulent river we may need to build a raft. When built, we single-mindedly and with great energy make our way across. Once across we don't need to cart the raft around with us. In other words don't cling to anything including the teachings. However, make sure you use them before you let them go. It's no use knowing everything about the raft and not getting on. The teachings are tools not dogma. The teachings are Upaya, which means skillful means or expedient method. It is fingers pointing at the moon - don't confuse the finger for the moon.
Labels: Buddhist
