Permission to let go of a practice or tradition when its time has passed
There’s a Zen koan that supposedly the Buddha told about a guy trying to cross a swollen river. There was no ferry or boat to carry him across, so he decided to build a raft. He collected the materials and spent days constructing a vessel that would carry him across the river to safety on the other side.
When he was ready, he set out. The river raged, threatening to drown him, but the raft remained faithful to its purpose. When the man jumped to shore on the other side, safe and sound, he was filled with gratitude and fondness for his sturdy raft.
So, the Buddha asked, would the man then carry the raft around with him the rest of his life? Of course not. He would leave it behind. There was no reason for the man to exhaust himself with what had already served its purpose.
Traditions, beliefs, and religious practices can become like the raft in the story. Once they saw us through certain phases of our lives, but they no longer serve us well. In fact, if we try to hold onto them after their time is through, they end up becoming heavy burdens instead of useful tools.
Jesus was pretty critical too of the religious institutions of his day. They burdened people with heavy requirements so they could belong and supposedly please God. Like the Buddha, Jesus invited followers to take a load off.
I don’t quote scripture a lot. Too often people use it as a conversation ender instead of a conversation opener. And I know a lot of people, myself included, have had a hard time reading the Bible since people started using it to justify the current presidency. But I think that’s actually what makes this passage so timely today to anyone fed up with carrying the heavy burden of American Christian culture:
Matthew 11:28–30 (The Message)
“Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me — watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.”
I’m not trying to convert anyone to Jesus or Buddha, but these are two pretty important spiritual figures both suggesting the same thing. Sometimes we make this shit way more difficult than it needs to be.
So what can you lay down today? What are you carrying around that you think you just can’t live without? Which traditions or practices or beliefs or ways of being do you cling to still?
If it feels too heavy to hold, chances are, you don’t really need it any more.
Thanks for reading —
Christa Hogan
