Going over to the other shore

(Bronze Age "Boat" Graves on Gotland)

After talking about the archeaological dig on Gotland, I thought of these wonderful graves from the Bronze Age. They were made in the shape of boats to symbolize the journey to the other side. At the same time, the Buddhist image of the boat taking us to the other shore from samsara to nirvana came to mind. So, even in Buddhism a boat helps us to leave the division of death and life behind. Once we know our True Nature, the death of the physical body no longer causes concern. The finla state is like a raindrop merging into the ocean, existence remains, but one's limitation and sense of separateness dissolve. It is something like this, anyway.

The first "death story" in Sushila Blackman's book is this one:

"When an elder Buddhist master asked a group of meditators, 'What survives when an enlightened being dies?' a man in the group replied, 'When an enlightened being dies, nothing remains.'

The master smiled and replied to the surprise of those assembled, 'No. The truth remains.'"

May I find the Truth, so that It may remain!