The Man and the Raft
One of Buddha's well known parable is where a man comes across a huge expanse of water that he would need to cross to continue his journey. But he has no means of crossing the river, he looks for a boat or bridge but he finds neither.
So he starts collecting all the materials he can use, grass, twigs, branches and with great effort he manages to put them all together to make a raft.
He uses the raft to keep him afloat as he paddles with his hands to cross the river. He safely manages to reach the other side of the water body and he can proceed with his journey!
But, what should he do with his raft? Should he drag it along with him or should he carry it or should he just leave it there?
Buddha says that dharma (the universal truth) is like a raft, its useful for crossing but not for holding onto.
Wasn't that a beautiful parable? What do you gain from this parable?
For me it's yet again a stepping stone towards the middle path, never holding onto firm beliefs and to be maleable. If the parable did not end with what Buddha said, I would say leave the raft to help another. I hope you enjoyed this little story as much as I did and how do you interpret it.
Here are a few more Buddha parables and stories -
Buddha Stories and Lessons
4 Parables to Unearth Your Buddha Nature
A Parable by Buddha on the Brave and Foolish
Human Life Interpreted by Buddhism
A Beautiful Teaching by Buddha About Using Your Gifts
Five Zen Parables To Trip Up The Mind
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