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by HasntBeen on April 28th, 2009
It's a pretty standard aphorism from Zen, originally attributed to Bodhidharma, I believe.
It means something like this: the Way (the path of awakening) is like a finger pointing to the moon. The teachers can show you where the road is, but if you think that what they show you IS enlightenment, you're confused. They can't show you enlightenment, they can only show you the way. You have to walk the road yourself, then you get to see what they're talking about. It's like a finger pointing at the moon... useful, but don't think the finger is the moon.
by PenetratingThursday on October 12th, 2009
I agree with HasntBeen. The moon is what you need to focus on, and not the person that shows it to you. Like some people idolize their pastors or proffessors or what-not and that distracts you from whats really there, whats really important.
by schmee2369 on April 28th, 2009
I dont know...the way I interpret it is
It is a good thing to point out a fact
but a bad thing to make your opinion a fact...and tell others it is a truth, and have them believe it.
by overeducated on April 28th, 2009
Gallagher said cats were dumber than dogs because when you point at something for a dog, he goes to get it. When you point at something for a cat, the cat looks at your finger.
I think that's sort of the same message.
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You're reading Interpret- "The finger is useful for pointing to the moon, but woe is he who confuses the finger for the moon."
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Comments
interesting. ++
by ssuess on April 28th, 2009