Buddha once told his followers:
“Imagine a man who set out on a long journey and was stopped by a wide stream of water. The nearest side of this stream was full of dangers and threatened death, the far side was strong and free from dangers. There was neither a canoe to cross the stream, nor a bridge spanning the opposite bank. Imagine that this person decided: “Truly, the stream is swift and wide, and there is no means to get over to the other side. But if I gather enough reeds, branches and leaves and build a raft from them, then, supported by such a raft and working hard with my hands and feet, I will cross in safety to the opposite bank.”
Now suppose that this man acted according to his intention: he built a raft, launched it into the water and, working with his feet and hands, safely reached the opposite shore.
Suppose that, having reached the opposite shore, a person thinks: “Truly, the raft has served me great service, for with its help I crossed safely to this shore. Let me put the raft on my shoulders and continue on my way!”
Having done this, will the man act rightly with his raft? What do you think, my students?
What will be the correct attitude of a person towards his raft?
Truly, a person should say to himself: “The raft has brought me great benefit, for, supported by it, working with my feet and hands, I safely reached the far shore. But I will leave him on the shore and continue on my way! Truly, in this case the person would have acted rightly towards his raft.
In the same way, O disciples, I offer you my teaching - precisely as a means to liberation and achievement, but not as a permanent property. Understand this analogy of the teaching with a raft; the teaching must be abandoned by you when you cross over to the shore of Nirvana.
Translated from Russian · original on wisdomlib.ru