The onus is very much on
oneself to do the work, no one else can do it for us. None but ourselves can
free our mind. One must make effort.
Bear in mind it is said there are 84 0000 dhamma
doors that lead to nibbana. The Buddha taught many paths and skilful means over
his 45-year teaching career. We are all different, with different interests and
dispositions, and so we must make our own raft out of the huge amount of
teachings passed down to us over the ages, find the ones that suit
us. There isn't one size that fits all.
In the metaphor of the raft, it isn't a fancy raft
that gets us to the other shore. It is just a bundle of sticks placed under the
arms to keep us afloat while we paddle across the flood using the four limbs of
right effort.
We don't have to know it all. Just grab a bundle of
teachings from the huge pile handed down to us, those that resonate with you
and make those into your raft.
And gently paddle, pace yourself, tune, and balance the energy of right effort:
‘ Thus, have I heard. On one occasion the
Blessed One was dwelling at Sāvatthī in Jeta’s Grove, Anāthapiṇḍika’s Park.
Then, when the night had advanced, a certain devatā of stunning beauty,
illuminating the entire Jeta’s Grove, approached the Blessed One. Having
approached, he paid homage to the Blessed One, stood to one side, and said to
him:
“How, dear sir, did you cross the flood?”
“By not halting, friend, and by not straining I
crossed the flood.”
“But how is it, dear sir, that by not halting and by not straining you crossed
the flood?”
“When I came to a standstill, friend, then I sank;
but when I struggled, then I got swept away. It is in this way, friend, that by
not halting and by not straining I crossed the flood.”
Crossing the flood
The onus is very much on oneself to do the work, no one else can do it for us. None but ourselves can free our mind. One must make effort.
Bear in mind it is said there are 84 0000 dhamma doors that lead to nibbana. The Buddha taught many paths and skilful means over his 45-year teaching career. We are all different, with different interests and dispositions, and so we must make our own raft out of the huge amount of teachings passed down to us over the ages, find the ones that suit us. There isn't one size that fits all.
In the metaphor of the raft, it isn't a fancy raft that gets us to the other shore. It is just a bundle of sticks placed under the arms to keep us afloat while we paddle across the flood using the four limbs of right effort.
We don't have to know it all. Just grab a bundle of teachings from the huge pile handed down to us, those that resonate with you and make those into your raft.
And gently paddle, pace yourself, tune, and balance the energy of right effort:
‘ Thus, have I heard. On one occasion the Blessed One was dwelling at Sāvatthī in Jeta’s Grove, Anāthapiṇḍika’s Park. Then, when the night had advanced, a certain devatā of stunning beauty, illuminating the entire Jeta’s Grove, approached the Blessed One. Having approached, he paid homage to the Blessed One, stood to one side, and said to him:
“How, dear sir, did you cross the flood?”
“By not halting, friend, and by not straining I crossed the flood.”
“But how is it, dear sir, that by not halting and by not straining you crossed the flood?”
“When I came to a standstill, friend, then I sank; but when I struggled, then I got swept away. It is in this way, friend, that by not halting and by not straining I crossed the flood.”
~ S 1.1 (Bhikkhu Bodhi trans.)