A monk set off on a long pilgrimage to find the
Buddha. He devoted many years
to his search until he finally reached the land
where the Buddha was said to
live. While crossing the river to this country,
the monk looked around as the
boatman rowed. He noticed something floating towards
them. As it got closer,
he realized that it was the corpse of a person.
When it drifted so close that
he could almost touch it, he suddenly recognized
the dead body - it was his own!
He lost all control and wailed at the sight of
himself, still and lifeless,
drifting along the river's currents. That moment
was the beginning of his liberation.