finger pointing at the moon

From Buddhism.

finger pointing at the moon (plural fingers pointing at the moon)

1. Something serving to indicate, as opposed to the thing being indicated.
   • 2011, David Fontana, Is Christianity Good for You? (page 178)

     In the Eastern religions we are reminded that a symbol is a finger pointing at the moon and should not be mistaken for the moon, but nevertheless the pointing finger enables us to look in the right direction.

   • 2012, Robert E. Carter, Encounter with Enlightenment: A Study of Japanese Ethics (page 108)

     The map, the words, the moral rules are but fingers pointing at the moon of experience. Understand the finger for what it is, and look beyond it to the source and meaning of it all.

• the map is not the territory