People Language and Dhamma Language

People Language & Dhamma Language

Buddhadasa Bhikkhu

People language, Dhamma language, why such a mess?
It helps preserve language, little brother!

Isn’t people language by itself good enough?
It can never express Dhamma that is profound!

What kind of stuff is spoken in people language?
Simple matters that people understand without thinking!

You mean people just listen and need not reflect?
Even if they must think, they use people meanings!

And what stuff is spoken in Dhamma language?
Those that lead into the Path & its Fruits!

But who can understand such queer sounding stuff?
Realizers of Dhamma savor it deeply in their hearts!

People language is for people, isn’t that true?
The more they talk, the further from truth they are!

And where will Dhamma language lead us?
The more one speaks it, the closer to Dhamma’s heart!

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