The other shore

Something’s changed since my Japan trip.

Something flipped, and I’m no longer satisfied with my status quo back home.

Everyday just grinding, trying to make a living, trying to make it beyond survival and to stay there.
Everyday just repeating the same old routine, eating the same lunch, hanging out in the same malls.
Everyday, a repeat of the day before, ad infinitum, ad nauseam.

I was worried about survival, but I can’t be held captive by it now.
What brought me here can’t take me further.

There’s a lovely Buddhist parable where the Buddha describes a man who, needing to escape danger, builds a raft to cross a river. Once safely on the other shore, the man considers whether he should continue to carry the raft with him. The Buddha asks his followers whether this is wise, and they agree that it is not. The Buddha explains that, just as it would be foolish to carry the raft once its purpose has been fulfilled, so too should one let go of the teachings (the Dhamma) once they have served their purpose in helping one achieve liberation.

We took the raft, hustled hard, and got saved. But it’s time to walk on into the other shore.

Different shore.
In a different city or country.

A ship in harbour is safe, but that is not what ships are built for.

So is life.

Time to set sail.