The Parable of the Raft

What does it mean to journey, and to change? To grow, to continue our onward path, we need to be able to embrace deep changes in our very being.

This makes me think of one of the most famous stories told by Buddha – the Parable of the Raft.

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A man is trapped on one side of a fast-flowing river. Where he stands, there is great danger and uncertainty – but on the far side of the river, there is safety.

Yet there is no bridge or ferry for crossing. So the man gathers logs, leaves and vines and is able to fashion together a raft, sturdy enough to carry him. By lying on the raft and using his arms to paddle, he crosses the river to safety.

The Buddha then asks the listeners a question: What would you think if the man, having crossed over the river, then said to himself, ‘Oh, this raft has served me so well, I should strap it on to my back and carry it over land now’?

The monks replied that it would not be very sensible to cling to the raft in such a way.

The Buddha continues: What if he lay the raft down gratefully, thinking that this raft has served him well, but is no longer of use and can thus be laid down upon the shore?

The monks replied that this would be the proper attitude.

The Buddha concluded by saying, ‘So it is with my teachings, which are like a raft, and are for crossing over with -- not for seizing hold of.’

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I find myself changing at the crossroads. My fierce competitive drive was instrumental in helping me to ‘cross the river’. I had to win, at all costs. Each success and failure defined me in the moment.

But now, I feel calmer, cooler, steadier. There is less anger in my body, less need to win. Echoing my mother, I feel as if I have fewer answers, but deeper assurance.

For a time, I worried about this – if I lost that competitive ‘edge’, would it mean I would not be able to face the coming challenges. Would I not succeed?

The raft is a good reminder.

We face many dangerous rivers in our journey. Sometimes we have to rely on certain values, certain aspects of ourselves, to get us across to safety. But once we find ourselves on the riverbanks, do we grasp onto those values, cling to them since they were instrumental to our path?

Do we strap the raft onto our back and carry it up the mountain? No, we lay it down. We embrace change, accepting that we are works-in-progress.

I think I've had enough of rivers. I feel quite light, as I face the mountain.