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THE POINTER

The Zen teacher's dog loved his evening romp with his master.

The dog would bound ahead to fetch a stick, then ran back, wag his tail, and wait for the next game.

One evening, the teacher invited the brightest student to join him,.    

A boy so intelligent that he became troubled by the contradictions in Buddhist doctrine.

"You must understand." Said the teacher.

"That words are only guideposts.

Never let the words  or symbols get in the way of truth."

Here, I'll show you.

With that,  the teacher called his happy dog.

"Fetch me the moon." he said to his dog and pointed to the moon.

"Where is my dog looking?" asked the teacher.

"He's looking at your finger." 

"Exactly, Don't be like my dog.

Don't confuse the pointing finger with the thing, that is being pointed at.

Most of our Spiritual words are only guideposts.

"Every man fights his way through other man's words to find his own truth."