Chapter III, Buddhism, The Image of Crossing, Summary and Analysis

Regardless of the seemingly different threads of Buddhism, there is a unity in the theme of a crossing from the sufferings of life to the wisdom of enlightenment. In each, the imagery is that of crossing a great stream where the earth-bound shore from which one embarks becomes less real as the farther shore takes on its spiritual substance. The Buddhist monk takes refuge in the Buddha, who made the first crossing; the dharma, which is the means of crossing; and the sangha, which is the religious order helping to navigate the trip. The destination of the crossing is not a place—it is where the person stands upon arrival (for the Buddha, it was under the Bo tree). The final insight does away with opposites, having crossed...