It would be very convenient if the ‘truth’ - the way it is - fitted neatly into our concepts (our categories). Then, we could contain it in our minds and, nothing would spill-over into anything else. Unfortunately, everything spills-over in this way as nothing inherently exists from its own side. We could study Buddhist theoretics ‘till the cows come home’ and if there has been no hands-on engagement with the teachings we may be largely clueless.
The same goes with Hinduism, we may hear of Hindu-notions or, other religious teachings. We may move them around like pieces on a chess-board and come to believe we know what they mean - what they are about. This is the problem with discursive activity - it gives the illusion that we have actually understood something, when in fact, we have just been playing a kind of mental-chess?
We have to know the rules, its not just about what you say but how you say it! Someone, may be a very capable communicator in ‘Buddhist philosophy’ for instance. They will be able to follow various lines of inquiry and exposition. They may be erudite but may be pretty much in the dark about the ‘actual’ meaning and import of the teachings. It involves a language-game - it’s a practice - a form-of-life.
“Wittgenstein argues that definitions emerge from what he termed “forms of life”, roughly the culture and society in which they are used. Wittgenstein stresses the social aspects of cognition; to see how language works for most cases, we have to see how it functions in a specific social situation … In short, it is essential that a language is shareable … Wittgenstein rejects the idea that ostensive definitions can provide us with the meaning of a word. For Wittgenstein, [the thing that the word stands for] does not give the meaning of the word.” - Wikipedia
“For a large class of cases - though not for all - in which we employ the word ‘meaning’ it can be defined thus: the meaning of a word is its use in the language.” - Wittgenstein
Rhetorical games are played through various moves (manoeuvres) - to and fro - the ball is in your court! As to whether the players have any real understanding of what it is they are talking about (that which the words stand for) is not required for the game to continue.
Language-games can give us the impression that we have understood the truth of the matter - the way things are - but, it ain’t necessarily so! We can be taken-in by our own confidence-tricks - bewitched by language.
There is another sense in which language can be game-like! We can play with words and be amused by them - we may feel empowered by words. A leader may give a resounding speech - a call to action! We all have our roles to play. We may identify with a body of teachings because they give us a sense of being a ‘somebody’ in an indifferent, hostile and dangerous world. An image of a missionary clutching a bible in a remote jungle - the power of belief - comes to mind. Liberating insight makes it possible to see the difference between language - what can be said - and truth (to be known by the wise, each for themselves).
Let the children play!