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**2swasseneons** · 02-12-2011, 06:50 PM

though we may have crossed the stream, we cannot be free if we insist on carrying the raft around on our shoulders

IMHO after crossing fully to the other shore, we will not cling to anything (including the raft). I think the teaching about the raft/stream is more for those of us who have yet to cross the stream, as we cling to the teachings and become so entangled in the words and our conceptualization of them that we prevent ourselves from progressing in the first place. We have everything we need, but are sitting still. We think we know everything already, but mistake the reflection of the moon for the moon itself.

I think that the advice is to not cling to the teachings even while we follow them.
Use them for the purpose they are intended... yes.
Attach to them as if they are more than a tool, mistake them for the truth... no.

So in my opinion we should be mindful of our attachment to our traditions/teachings, and discern a raft for a raft.

02-12-2011, 06:50 PM	#26
2swasseneons Join Date Oct 2005 Posts 385 Senior Member	though we may have crossed the stream, we cannot be free if we insist on carrying the raft around on our shoulders IMHO after crossing fully to the other shore, we will not cling to anything (including the raft). I think the teaching about the raft/stream is more for those of us who have yet to cross the stream, as we cling to the teachings and become so entangled in the words and our conceptualization of them that we prevent ourselves from progressing in the first place. We have everything we need, but are sitting still. We think we know everything already, but mistake the reflection of the moon for the moon itself. I think that the advice is to not cling to the teachings even while we follow them. Use them for the purpose they are intended... yes. Attach to them as if they are more than a tool, mistake them for the truth... no. So in my opinion we should be mindful of our attachment to our traditions/teachings, and discern a raft for a raft.
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