Editing Laṅkāvatāra Sūtra (section)

=== The Ultimate is beyond words ===
Another important idea found in the ''Laṅkāvatāra'' is how the ultimate reality (dharmata) transcends all language and conventional expressions and is free from verbal discrimination (''vāgvikalpa'').<ref name=":11" /> Because ultimate reality is eternal, free from arising and ceasing, and cannot be grasped or cognized (''[[anupalabdhi]]'') the sutra states that Buddhas "do not teach the doctrine that is dependent letters (''akṣarapatita'')."<ref name=":11" />

Because of this, all teachings in the sutra are not the ultimate, even though they point to the ultimate, like a finger pointing at the Moon. Thus, one should not become attached to the words of the sutra, to the letters (which are only provisional, ''[[Two truths doctrine|saṁvṛti]]'') and instead should focus on the ultimate meaning (''paramārtha'').<ref name=":11" /> The Lanka thus states:<blockquote>As the ignorant grasps the finger-tip (that points to the moon) and does not cognize the moon, so those who cling to the letter do not know my truth.<ref name=":11" /> </blockquote>The ''Laṅkāvatāra'' also states that even though Buddhas teach (in conventional fashion), they have never uttered even a single letter or syllable (''[[Aksara|akṣara]])'':<blockquote>the Tathagatas neither uttered nor answered even a letter (''ekam apy akṣaram''), because truths are beyond the letters. It does not mean, however, that (the Tathagatas) never declare what is connected with the benefit (artha) of beings. Depending upon discrimination, they declare anything. If, Mahamati, they do not depend upon discrimination, the scriptures containing all the truths will disappear, and when the scriptures disappear there will be no Buddhas, Sravakas, Pratyekabuddhas and Bodhisattvas; when they disappear, what is to be taught and to whom? For this reason, Mahamati, the Bodhisattva-Mahasattva should not cling to the words or letters in a canonical text...the Bodhisattva-Mahasattva should be in conformity with the meaning (''artha-pratiśaraṇa'') and not with the letter (''vyañjana'').<ref name=":11" /> </blockquote>According to Charles Willemen, this teaching of the ''Laṅkāvatāra'' is "the basis for Chan’s famous wordless teaching" which sees Chan as being taught "without words" (言说).<ref>Willemen, Charles. "Guṇabhadra to Bodhidharma: The Laṅkāvatāra-Sūtra and the Idea of Preaching without Words" in ''Journal of the Institute of Buddhist Studies,'' Third Series, Number 16, 2014.</ref>