As long as people are beguiled by words, they can never expect to penetrate to the heart of Zen. Why?  Because words are merely a vehicle on which the truth is carried. Not understanding the meaning of the old masters and their koans, people try to find it in the  words only, but they will find nothing there to lay their hands on. 

The truth itself is beyond all description, but it is by words that the truth is manifested. Let us, then, forget the words when we gain the truth itself. This is done only when we have an insight through experience into that which is indicated by the words.

- Lu K'uan Yu