No one can build a raft for us except ourselves so we can safely cross a great expanse of water by which to leave this dangerous shore of suffering. Building this raft means understanding the Buddha’s teaching (dharma) correctly. Otherwise we will not really build a raft nor will we be able cross this great expanse of water. How can it be otherwise?
This is not like going to Zen center hoping to find a ready made raft or have someone help us build this raft. It doesn't work like that. We will not be able to cross.
The Buddha’s teaching or dharma is one thing but to understand it correctly is quite another matter. I hasten to say, there are many who are attempting to build this raft but don't succeed, much less put it into this great expanse of water and cross over.
Even for those who are successful in crossing over this great expanse of water, they do not carry the teaching around as mere words but fully understand the ineffable spirit of the Buddha’s teaching.
A far deeper understanding of Buddhism is required of the builder of the raft. This understanding does not lie with the intellect but direct intuition, and until this intuition comes the raft remains in the intellectual imagination.
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