Trust the Meaning and Don't Cling to the Words

The teachings of emptiness, non-arising, non-duality, and the absence of self-existence pervades all the sutras spoken by the buddhas. Every sutra teaches these truths. But because every sutra responds to the longings of beings, they differ as to how they express these truths, which are not really in the words. Just as the sight of a mirage confuses a herd of deer, whereby the deer imagine the appearance of water where there is no water, likewise the teachings of the sutras are meant to gladden people's hearts. But buddha knowledge is not to be found in the words. Therefore, trust the meaning and don't cling to the words.

---The Buddha speaking to Mahamati in The Lankavatara Sutra---