old-path-white-clouds-thich-nhat-hanh

characteristics of the Way of Enlightenment.”
They all followed the Buddha, including the fisherman. When everyone was seated, the Buddha began, “Our brother fisherman has
described eight wonderful characteristics of the sea. I will now describe eight wonderful characteristics of the true path. First, the Dharma is
not unlike the ocean whose shores slope gently downwards enabling the fishermen to more easily pull their boats and nets into the sea. In
the teaching, every person can progress from the easy to the difficult, from the low to the high, from the superficial to the profound. The
Dharma is broad enough to accommodate every temperament. Anyone can enter the path, whether young or old, educated or unschooled.
Every person can find methods suitable to his or her individual needs.
“Second, as the ocean stays in the same place, so does the Dharma. The principles of the teaching never change. The precepts have
been clearly transmitted. The true Dharma dwells wherever people study and practice the principles and precepts. The Dharma cannot be
lost or misplaced.
“Third, as the ocean never holds onto a corpse, the Dharma does not tolerate ignorance, laziness, or violation of the precepts. Any
person who does not maintain the practice will find himself eventually thrust from the community.
“Fourth, as the ocean receives all rivers equally, the Dharma receives persons from all castes equally. And just as rivers that empty into
the sea leave their own names behind, those who enter the path leave their caste, lineage, and former positions behind in order to take the
name of bhikkhu.
“Fifth, just as the level of the sea remains constant, the Dharma remains constant no matter how many or how few people follow it. The
Dharma cannot be measured by numbers.
“Sixth, as seawater is always salty, the Dharma, though it be revealed in countless ways and though there be countless methods of
practice, has only one taste. That is the taste of liberation. If the teaching does not lead to liberation, it is not true teaching.
“Seventh, as the ocean contains coral, mother-of-pearl, and precious stones, the Dharma contains sublime and precious teachings like
the Four Noble Truths, the Four Right Efforts, the Five Faculties, the Five Powers, the Seven Factors of Awakening, and the Noble
Eightfold Path.
“Eighth, as the ocean provides a safe refuge to thousands of living beings, whether they are as tiny as a grain of sand or several hundred
feet in length, the Dharma provides refuge to all, whether they are unschooled children or Great Beings like the Bodhisattvas. There are
countless students of the Dharma who have attained the fruits of Stream Enterer, Once Returner, Never Returner, or Arhat.
“Like the ocean, the Dharma is a source of inspiration and an immeasurable treasure.”
Venerable Ananda joined his palms and looked at the Buddha. He said, “Lord, you are a spiritual Master, and you are also a poet.”