The Buddha spoke in Pali
The Buddha spoke in Pali: We don’t, and essence certainly doesn’t.
The Buddha spoke in Pali: This was translated into Sanskrit, and then into Tibetan and many other languages. We may see certain languages as ‘holy’, particularly for prayers and mantras, but the actual experience is beyond any language or culture. Writings, in whatever language, have to be archived as a source of knowledge, but wisdom comes from experience…actual, pure experience. The truth is revealed in our intention and openness.
Calling Buddhism a religion limits its appeal, and causes people to repeat phrases which they do not understand, and so confuse themselves and others. An example: “If you see the Buddha on the road, kill him.” People repeat this to mean that you are your own Buddha, and so place no one above your head. The teaching is that conceptual knowledge isn’t actual knowledge: concepts are ‘killed’ or dissolved by cutting their roots. We have to do the work to experience the wisdom of the Buddha’s inspiration, and not just his words.
Buddhism is the study of the psychology that obscures our true nature: it doesn’t add to it. Modern psychology merely studies the human mind and its functions, but not the nature of mind itself.
We can find ourselves caught between exaggerated holiness, and modern quick-fix remedies (actually, modern quick-fix remedies delay our spiritual progress, and neither are they a quick-fix!).
Monasteries and shrine rooms with eight foot tall Buddhas and a thousand smaller Buddhas are very shiny and very ostentatious – and not totally necessary. Every time I walk into one of these, the first thought is, “How much did this cost?!” Donations are called merit, and artisans can make a living from their skill, but we will not find the truth in either a mental or physical construct.
Centres are good for people to go to for support, but Buddha – or God – doesn’t actually live in the temple, or in a book, or on a this screen…Buddha is reading this now!
Jesus said…
“The Kingdom of God is inside you, and all around you,
not in mansions of wood and stone.
Split a piece of wood…and I am there.
Lift a stone…and you will find me” (essence).
It costs nothing to to recognise essence.
It costs nothing to love…
….enough said!
😉
BUDDHA IN THE MUD is a blog - a living book based on the Dzogchen teachings. Our teacher is life, and life is karma. We are all Buddhas in the mud of concepts. 
I’ve read that quotation in so many places – and so often, the meaning is twisted (or at least, I see it as twisted 😉 ). The other day, I came across it being used to show how we are all gods. The way I understand it, the “road” is our path, our spiritual journey, and if while on that journey, we start to see ourselves as special, or enlightened, that can only arise from ego and must therefore be destroyed.
Actually, reading your words again, I think that’s what you’re saying too, Tony!
Daisy