The Parable of the Raft

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. But there is no bridge or ferry for crossing. So the man gathers logs, leaves, twigs, and vines and is able to fashion a raft, sturdy enough to carry him to the other shore. 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, “The dharma too is like a raft. It serves the purpose of crossing over, not the purpose of grasping."

To all who doubt at times.

In this deeply interdependent world our idiot brains somehow still manage to make us feel alone, unheard, weak and useless. If-s and But-s, habits and subconscious patterns can have us ending up in a weird place energetically.

Things often appear more complicated in our heads than they really are.

A full stop can be a good remedy against cycles that lead nowhere.

Stopping allows us to enter neutral ground. From that place of inhibition, we can make a new decision.

How about stepping out of that air-headed drift into the present moment?
Step into what's a relevant actuality, right now.

R E N D E R  
Y O U R S E L F
I N S T A N T L Y
L U C I D

- Perception determines experience and the ability to take initiative. Make perception sharp and clear. Cut through delusions without mercy.

- Past actions have brought you here, future goals call for your action in the present. What do you need to do? Act swiftly and without hesitation.

- What you deem possible determines potential outcome. Form a detailed vision. Re-form it as you grow.

- Whether you're successful depends on whether you try. Don't leave any potential untouched.

- Pressure creates diamonds. Push yourself, but don't make yourself suffer.

- Discomfort is a pointer at your potential to grow. Bathe in it with great pleasure.

- You're NEVER alone.

Staying in a mindset of feeling left behind and isolated is like denying the colony behind the queen ant

(and for losers).

We don't do that here.
😈🫶🏻

Hold your crown up high.

You're only ever facing the challenges you chose for yourself.

If anyone can go through this, it's you.

H A V E  
A   L I T T L E   T R U S T .

Camille Bombois (French naïve artist, 1883-1970)

Tfw someone accidentally points out a shadow to you 🌚

I had a little apple tree on a clearing in a forest, where I lived, away from civilisation, with only one or two other mystics.
I had been caring for the tree for a long time.

A group of young hikers came, and in their revolutionary spirit, they took my tree, uprooted it, and carried it to the place where they gathered to get ready for the next stage of their journey.

I went with them, not because they had my tree, but because it was my time to go. I had to leave. They were here for me, and they were my Way Out.

So I became one of them.

The air was buzzing with energy as everyone was arranging to get ready, talking, planning, distributing resources for the road ahead.

Amidst the commotion I caught a glimpse at my tree that they hat set down upright, a bit to the side, away from the center of action.

It had lost all its leaves, and the bark had turned black. There was one single ripe fruit hanging on one of the branches.

I went and picked the apple off the tree. It was beautiful: small and shiny with one fully red cheek.

Tossing it to the leader of the group, the man who had started this undertaking, I called out to him:
"Fetch! This one is yours."
He caught it and quickly moved on with his business.

I could only see his face for a split second.

I knew these eyes.

For the metaphorically illiterate:

This analogy is about realizing the bigger picture, and readily obeying superior mechanisms by means of immediate, swift servitude with the quickly adapting mind of a reality-transforming magician.

The tree is the only thing of value that exists to this mystic, and it is taken away.
Without hesitation, the value is shifted.
The experience of having something precious taken away is instantly turned into a blessing.
The tree is a pretext, no more than a tool for liberation.
All attachment is cast away in order to line up with the outer circumstance.
A new identity is formed, the Self is integrated into the group swiftly and without turbulences.

And from it all, a fruit had sprung.
This is not the time to be holding on to what little merit we have created for ourselves.

Offer it to the greater purpose.

This is how we turn Lead into Gold.

We multiply the fruits of our work by offering them up to the Spiritual Cause.

May all our work, every one of our words, every breath we take, be dedicated to the Enlightenment of all.

Then and only then, every move we make springs from Divine Nature, flows back into Divine Nature, is in accord with Divine Nature.
We naturally become more effective.
We become more powerful.

It is what we should be doing.
We're engaging in Spiritual Warfare after all.