眾生無邊誓願度
煩惱無盡誓願斷
法門無量誓願學
佛道無上誓願成

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Dharma Teachings

25 Jul 2018    Wednesday     1st Teach Total 768

The Finger Pointing to the Moon

Language is merely a finger, not the essence of Tathagatagarbha. No matter how one speaks, the act of speaking itself is not Tathagatagarbha, but rather the finger. Language can point to Tathagatagarbha, and others may realize Tathagatagarbha by following this pointer. When we face a painting, language can express it freely, yet whatever is expressed is not the painting itself. However, others can understand the painting, recognize the painting, based on the linguistic description.

Therefore, when others describe their realization of Tathagatagarbha through language, one may comprehend it, but this does not mean it is one's own realization. Only when one personally observes it directly, regardless of whether it can be described in words, is it a direct perception of Tathagatagarbha, constituting the realization of Tathagatagarbha. Thus, although language is illusory, it is useful; it is an indispensable tool for realizing the Dharma. Even all illusory phenomena are instruments, all have their uses. All terminologies are fingers pointing at the moon, all are instruments, all are maps leading to Tathagatagarbha, and all are useful. The only fear is drawing the map incorrectly or pointing the finger in the wrong direction.

——Master Sheng-Ru's Teachings
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