The word "Tathagata" according to Dhiravamsa (a living Buddha) is defined as meaning "one who points out the way." In a lecture that I recall in Oberlin's Buddhist Meditation project the central point was that we have to find our own way to our own path. The Buddha can only point out the way. The Buddha was a prince. He would have had no venal motivations to publish or perish.
The Buddha cannot give us enlightenment, he can only point to the way. The actual treading of the path, we have to do ourselves and with our own insight and awareness, or lack of it.
It does however help to have someone around who is familiar with the way who can guide us, but we should nonetheless remember that in the final analysis we come and go in and out of our earthly existence unguided. Life is not a guided tour for every minute of our passage through it.
You may cross the River Jordan. You have to cross it for yourself.
Namaste.
PS: I still have to get to Berkeley to check the box. Will do so before next year, I expect. That, you shouldn't be expected to do for yourself. . .
We do know both the way to San Jose and to Berkeley.
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