Sutra: How the Prince crossed the Flood

Susan Elbaum Jootla, Teacher of the Devas; Dhr. Seven, Ellie Askew (eds.), Wisdom Quarterly

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Samsara is a "flood." Nirvana is safety.

Thus have I heard. Once late at night a deva ("shining one") came into the Buddha's presence, casting bright light over the whole of Jeta's Grove. He saluted the Awakened One, stood respectfully to one side, and asked: "How, dear sir, did you cross the flood?"

This being of light knew that the Buddha had transcended and gone beyond the suffering inherent in the Wheel of Life and Death (samsara) with its deluge of misery. He wanted to learn how the Buddha had achieved this.

The Buddha replied: "Friend, by not standing still and by not struggling, I crossed the flood." The deva, perplexed by this apparent paradox, asked for clarification. To clarify the analogy, the Enlightened One told him:

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If I were a princess, I would cross the flood, too.

"Friend, when I came to a standstill then I sank. But when I struggled then I got swept away. It is in this way, friend, that by not standing still and by not struggling, I crossed the flood."

This metaphor describes right or balanced effort. The wandering ascetic Siddhartha "sank" when he did not work hard enough, but if he strained too hard he became agitated and got "swept away."

When he discerned how to cross over with just the right balance between energy and calm, he transcended the flood of suffering fully and permanently.

The deva rejoiced that at long last he had met a real arhat (enlightened person), a true holy person:

"After a long time at last I see

A Brahmin who is fully cooled,

Who by not standing still, not struggling,

Has crossed clinging to the world"

(KS I, 2; SN 1:1)

The delighted deva had correctly perceived what set the Buddha apart from others: The ascetic Siddhartha had transcended death, rebirth, and all suffering to become the Buddha by eliminating all the mental impurities.

The deva began his question with a modicum of confidence (faith) in the Buddha and received personal instruction from him.

As a result, the Commentary to this sutra indicates, he became a stream-enterer (the first stage of enlightenment). After the Buddha approved of this verse, the deva paid respects and departed. More

• AUDIO: Balance Spiritual Urgency with Serene Calm