Difference between revisions of "Rivers"
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| − | He called the ordinary [[worldly]] [[state]] ‘this bank’ (ora) and [[Nirvāṇa]] ‘the further bank’ ([[pāra]]). He named the [[first stage of enlightenment]] ‘entering the {{Wiki|stream}}’ ([[sotāpatti]]), which would be a preliminary to swimming across a [[river]]. To him, attitudinal and [[emotional]] negativities like [[greed]], [[hatred]] and [[desire]] were ‘torrents’ or ‘floods’ ([[ogha]]) that could sweep one away. He said of a [[monk]] who studied the [[Dhamma]] diligently that he is ‘one who [[knows]] a ford’ (titthaṃ [[jānāti]], M.I,221). The cowherd [[Nanda]] assured the [[Buddha]] of his [[determination]] and ability to be a good [[monk]] by saying: ‘Lord, I will not get stuck on this bank nor will I get stranded on the far bank. I shall not sink in midstream and I shall not run aground on a sandbar. May the Lord accept me as a [[monk]].’ (S.IV,181). In one of his most famous similes the [[Buddha]] likened his teachings to an improvised raft, which, after it had been used, could be abandoned; the [[idea]] being that even something as [[precious]] as the freedom-giving [[Dhamma]] should not be clung to (M.I,134). | + | |
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| + | A [[river]] ([[gaṅgā]], [[nadī]] or [[savantī]]) is a natural flow of [[water]] continuing in a long course across a landscape to another [[body]] of [[water]]; either another [[river]], a lake or the ocean. | ||
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| + | After the [[Himalayas]], the most noticeable natural feature of the [[Middle Land]], that part of [[India]] where the [[Buddha]] lived, was the [[rivers]]. | ||
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| + | They were also the most important; as a means of transport, a provider of [[food]] ({{Wiki|fish}}) and a source of [[water]] for irrigating crops. Some of the [[rivers]] that flow through the [[Middle Land]] – the [[Ganges]] and [[Yamunā]], the [[Rapti]], [[Gandak]] and [[Ghaghara]] (A.V,22) are extremely wide. | ||
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| + | The [[Son River]] at Dehri where the [[Buddha]] would have crossed on his way to and from [[Sārnāth]], is nearly four kilometers wide. | ||
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| + | When he and the [[monks and nuns]] who were accompanying him on his journey arrived at a [[river]], they would often have to look for a boat or other craft or try to make a raft out of reeds and branches in order to get across (D.II,89). | ||
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| + | So for the [[Buddha]], who spent much of his [[life]] traversing the country, [[rivers]] were, more than anything else, a challenging [[obstacle]]. It is not surprising, therefore, that he often used [[rivers]] and many things associated with them as {{Wiki|metaphors}} for the [[spiritual]] quest and its goal. | ||
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| + | He called the ordinary [[worldly]] [[state]] ‘this bank’ (ora) and [[Nirvāṇa]] ‘the further bank’ ([[pāra]]). | ||
| + | |||
| + | He named the [[first stage of enlightenment]] ‘entering the {{Wiki|stream}}’ ([[sotāpatti]]), which would be a preliminary to swimming across a [[river]]. | ||
| + | |||
| + | To him, attitudinal and [[emotional]] negativities like [[greed]], [[hatred]] and [[desire]] were ‘torrents’ or ‘floods’ ([[ogha]]) that could sweep one away. He said of a [[monk]] who studied the [[Dhamma]] diligently that he is ‘one who [[knows]] a ford’ (titthaṃ [[jānāti]], M.I,221). | ||
| + | |||
| + | The cowherd [[Nanda]] assured the [[Buddha]] of his [[determination]] and ability to be a good [[monk]] by saying: ‘Lord, I will not get stuck on this bank nor will I get stranded on the far bank. I shall not sink in midstream and I shall not run aground on a sandbar. | ||
| + | |||
| + | May the Lord accept me as a [[monk]].’ (S.IV,181). | ||
| + | |||
| + | In one of his most famous similes the [[Buddha]] likened his teachings to an improvised raft, which, after it had been used, could be abandoned; the [[idea]] being that even something as [[precious]] as the freedom-giving [[Dhamma]] should not be clung to (M.I,134). | ||
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Every time wayfaring [[monks]] or [[nuns]] found their [[path]] blocked by a great [[river]] sliding silently along, or a simple cowherd like [[Nanda]] took his [[animals]] down to a [[river]] to drink, they would have been reminded of some aspect of the [[Buddha’s teaching]]. See [[Bridges]]. | Every time wayfaring [[monks]] or [[nuns]] found their [[path]] blocked by a great [[river]] sliding silently along, or a simple cowherd like [[Nanda]] took his [[animals]] down to a [[river]] to drink, they would have been reminded of some aspect of the [[Buddha’s teaching]]. See [[Bridges]]. | ||
Latest revision as of 03:01, 8 January 2016
A river (gaṅgā, nadī or savantī) is a natural flow of water continuing in a long course across a landscape to another body of water; either another river, a lake or the ocean.
After the Himalayas, the most noticeable natural feature of the Middle Land, that part of India where the Buddha lived, was the rivers.
They were also the most important; as a means of transport, a provider of food (fish) and a source of water for irrigating crops. Some of the rivers that flow through the Middle Land – the Ganges and Yamunā, the Rapti, Gandak and Ghaghara (A.V,22) are extremely wide.
The Son River at Dehri where the Buddha would have crossed on his way to and from Sārnāth, is nearly four kilometers wide.
When he and the monks and nuns who were accompanying him on his journey arrived at a river, they would often have to look for a boat or other craft or try to make a raft out of reeds and branches in order to get across (D.II,89).
So for the Buddha, who spent much of his life traversing the country, rivers were, more than anything else, a challenging obstacle. It is not surprising, therefore, that he often used rivers and many things associated with them as metaphors for the spiritual quest and its goal.
He called the ordinary worldly state ‘this bank’ (ora) and Nirvāṇa ‘the further bank’ (pāra).
He named the first stage of enlightenment ‘entering the stream’ (sotāpatti), which would be a preliminary to swimming across a river.
To him, attitudinal and emotional negativities like greed, hatred and desire were ‘torrents’ or ‘floods’ (ogha) that could sweep one away. He said of a monk who studied the Dhamma diligently that he is ‘one who knows a ford’ (titthaṃ jānāti, M.I,221).
The cowherd Nanda assured the Buddha of his determination and ability to be a good monk by saying: ‘Lord, I will not get stuck on this bank nor will I get stranded on the far bank. I shall not sink in midstream and I shall not run aground on a sandbar.
May the Lord accept me as a monk.’ (S.IV,181).
In one of his most famous similes the Buddha likened his teachings to an improvised raft, which, after it had been used, could be abandoned; the idea being that even something as precious as the freedom-giving Dhamma should not be clung to (M.I,134).
Every time wayfaring monks or nuns found their path blocked by a great river sliding silently along, or a simple cowherd like Nanda took his animals down to a river to drink, they would have been reminded of some aspect of the Buddha’s teaching. See Bridges.
