Crossing the Flood (SN 1.1) ( lemmy.world )

Thus have I heard — At one time, the Blessed One was dwelling at Sāvatthi in the Jeta's Grove, Anāthapiṇḍika's Park.

Then, in the stillness of the night, a certain deity, of surpassing beauty, illuminating the entire Jeta's Grove, approached the Blessed One; having approached and paid homage to the Blessed One, she stood at one side. Standing to one side, that deity said to the Blessed One: "How, dear sir, did you cross over the flood?"

"Without any support [1], friend, and without struggling, I crossed over the flood."

"But how, dear sir, did you cross over the flood without any support and without struggling?"

"When I took support, friend, I sank; when I struggled, I was swept away. In this way, friend, without any support, without struggling, I crossed over the flood."

After a long time, indeed, I see,

a Brahmin who has attained final Nibbāna;

Without any support, without struggling,

having crossed over the entanglements of the world.

Thus spoke that deity. The Teacher approved. Then that deity, having said "The Teacher approved," paid homage to the Blessed One, circumambulated him, and vanished right there.

Picture Credit: Zdzislaw Beksinski – painting WN, 1984

Related Teachings:

There is That Base (Ud 8.1) - This teaching expands on the Buddha's use of without any support in [1], support here is to mean to rely on a base, to rely on something to hold on to.

Navigating through 30 mental qualities that lead to enlightenment, to the arising of the Buddha (AN 10.76) - The Buddha lays down 30 different mental qualities in ten sets of threes that lead all the way to enlightenment. He explains them both backwards and forwards.