An allegory for Buddhist training

There is an ancient story which tells of someone living in a very dry dusty country, who feels the call to make a journey, without being entirely sure why. The Seeker, as this person is called, has some sense of which direction to go in, but there is no one to point the way, no map to consult, and there are no roads or even tracks to follow.

The inner call to leave the familiar surroundings of the home village becomes stronger and stronger, and the Seeker eventually sets out, because not to do so is no longer a satisfactory option. Leaving the landscape of life-so-far, the Seeker heads in the direction that seems to be necessary. Travelling by day and resting by night, the journey continues on and on. As the days become months, with no end in sight and the beginning almost forgotten, life becomes the travelling, and the travelling becomes life.

Sometimes uncertain, but continuing on anyway, from day to day the Seeker doesn’t notice the gradual change in the landscape and climate. Then at times there is the sudden recognition that it is different here; different from the dusty country which was left behind.

After what seems like a lifetime of travelling, it is not entirely the same person, but nor is it a completely different person, who one day stumbles upon something never experienced before. Although the journey to get here has been long and gradual, the sight of what is now encountered is difficult to take in. Those who dwell here say that it is called the Great River. The Seeker tentatively dips a finger into this unknown thing, then a foot, and as it becomes more familiar, eventually plunges in and swims freely in the water. Feeling the unexpected flow of the river, sometimes the Seeker swims upstream against the current, and sometimes drifts downstream carried by the current. Occasionally the Seeker swims right out into the river, so that the far bank can be seen in the distance, and then turns back.

After some time, the Seeker feels a call to return to the dry and dusty country, and to share with the people there the wonders of the Great River; its immense size and its swiftly flowing current. Realising how hard it will be to convey the life of the Great River to those who have never seen it, the Seeker decides that the only way will be to take the river back, so that people can know it for themselves.

Finding a bucket, the Seeker scoops up some water from the swiftest flowing part of the river and sets out on the journey back to the dusty country.

The journey back never seems as long as the journey there, and sooner than expected the Seeker comes upon the village and goes to the home of a Good Friend, and tells of the Great River and shows the Good Friend the bucket of water. Unprepared for the revelation, the Good Friend is astounded to see what the Seeker has brought. The Good Friend tentatively dips a finger into this unknown thing, and as it becomes more familiar, eventually plunges a whole arm in and turns it freely in the water. As the water moves, it reminds the Seeker of how it feels to swim with the current of the river. The Good Friend asks to keep some of the river, and when the Seeker agrees, fills a bowl with a portion of the water.

When the Seeker has left, the Good Friend goes to a Relative, and tells of the Great River and shows the Relative the bowl of water. Unprepared for the revelation, the Relative is astounded to see what the Good Friend has brought. The Relative tentatively dips a finger into this unknown thing, and as it becomes more familiar, eventually plunges a whole hand in and turns it freely in the water. As the water moves, it reminds the Good Friend of how it feels to turn a whole arm in the water. The Relative asks to keep some of the river, and when the Good Friend agrees, fills a cup with a portion of the water.

When the Good Friend has left, the Relative goes to a Neighbour, and tells of the Great River and shows the Neighbour the cup of water. Unprepared for the revelation, the Neighbour is astounded to see what the Relative has brought. The Neighbour tentatively dips a finger-tip into this unknown thing, and as it becomes more familiar, eventually plunges a whole finger in and turns it freely in the water. As the water moves, it reminds the Relative of how it feels to turn a whole hand in the water. The Neighbour asks to keep some of the river, and when the Relative agrees, fills a thimble with a portion of the water.

When the Relative has left, a Young Child comes to visit the Neighbour, who tells of the Great River and shows the Young Child the thimble of water. Unprepared for the revelation, the Young Child is astounded to see what the Neighbour has shown. The Young Child tentatively dips a finger-tip into this unknown thing, and as it becomes more familiar, eventually turns the finger-tip freely in the water. As the water moves, it reminds the Neighbour of how it feels to turn a whole finger in the water. The Young Child wants to share this amazing experience with everyone, and asks to borrow the Great River. The Neighbour agrees, and the Young Child carries the thimble of water from house to house, so that everyone can know how it feels to experience the Great River.

Everyone who experiences the Great River in the thimble is amazed by it, and inspired by the enthusiasm of the Young Child, follow from door to door as the Great River is carried throughout the village.

Eventually they come to the home of the Relative, and the Young Child tells of the Great River and shows the Relative the thimble of water. The Relative laughs, and brings out the cup of water, saying that this is the true Great River, and that what is in the thimble is just a portion of it. Their understanding of the nature of the Great River deepens, and borrowing the cup of water from the Relative they continue around the village.

Eventually they come to the home of the Good Friend, and the Young Child tells of the Great River and shows the Good Friend the cup of water. The Good Friend laughs, and brings out the bowl of water, saying that this is the true Great River, and that what is in the cup is just a portion of it. Their understanding of the nature of the Great River deepens, and borrowing the bowl of water from the Good Friend they continue around the village.

As they continue on their way they happen to meet the Seeker, and the Young Child tells of the Great River and shows the Seeker the bowl of water. The Seeker laughs, and shows them the bucket of water, saying that this is the true Great River, and that what is in the bowl is just a portion of it. Their understanding of the nature of the Great River deepens, and they follow the Seeker, who carries the Great River itself.

As time passes, people ask the Seeker about the Great River, and the Seeker describes the journey, and what it is like to swim in the Great River. Turning a whole arm in the bucketful of River, the Seeker relives the experience of swimming, and when others turn their arm in the bucket they believe that they do too.

The Young Child, however, realises that the bucket is itself just a portion of the Great River, and asks the Seeker for directions to find the true source. The Seeker describes the path and the journey, and the Young Child sets out, but after a while becomes lost in an inhospitable wilderness. Unable to follow the Seeker’s directions any more, the Young Child sits down and accepts that the way is lost. After a while, however, the need to move on is strong, and the Young Child sets off in a direction that seems good to follow, with no expectation of finding the Great River. Before too long the Young Child reaches something never experienced before, and from the Seeker’s description realises that it is the Great River.

The Young Child tentatively dips a finger into this unknown thing, then a foot, and as it becomes more familiar, eventually plunges in and swims freely in the water. Feeling the flow of the river, the Young Child understands, through direct experience, what the Seeker was trying to describe.

Returning to the dusty country, the Young Child talks about the Great River in words very different to those of the Seeker. The Seeker recognises from experience that the description is of just the same Great River swum in by the Seeker long ago. Those who have not known it for themselves, however, are confused, and setting the two descriptions against each other, form rival groups. Although both the Seeker and the Young Child know that both descriptions are accurate, the Seeker encourages people to support just the one viewpoint, that of the Seeker, whereas the Young Child points out the folly of setting up two different groups.

Those who support the Seeker make rich offerings, and the Seeker encourages this, saying that this is the best way for them to gain merit, so that they too may, at some point in the future, experience the Great River. When those who support the Young Child make offerings, the Young Child child does accept them, but encourages them to set out to find the Great River, and to know it for themselves.

In the short term, the Seeker’s group becomes very wealthy and has ornate altars, but when the Seeker dies, there is no one who can talk of the Great River from their own experience, and the group quickly disbands.

The Young Child’s group is supported, but not wealthy. However it has many members who have themselves swum in the Great River, and felt its currents. When the Young Child dies there are others who can guide people towards the Great River, and it is this lineage that has come down to the present time.