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TEACHINGS | EASTERN HORIZON 13
Similes of the Raft and
the Snake-catcher
By Venerable Dr Henepola Gunaratana
Bhante Gunaratana was What is the use of a raft? It is man who does not know how to
ordained at the age of twelve as used for crossing over a vast catch a poisonous snake were to
a Buddhist monk in Sri Lanka, expanse of water which is difficult hold the snake either by his body
earned his PhD in philosophy otherwise to cross over. The close or by his tail he may get bitten
from The American University, scrutiny of the application of by the snake and consequently
and has led meditation retreats, this simile used by the Buddha suffer severe injury or death. The
taught Buddhism, and lectured in Snake-simile (Alagaddūpama message in these two similes once
widely throughout the United Sutta) Sutta, Discourse no. 22 realized fully would facilitate better
States, Canada, Europe, and in Majjhima Nikaya (The Middle understanding of the tension stems
Australia. Bhante Henepola Length Discourses), elucidates how from the increase of violence and
skillfully he chose it to illustrate
crime in the name of religion in
Gunaratana is the president of precisely what people, who don’t modern society.
the Bhavana Society in High fully comprehend the meaning
View, West Virginia, where he of religions, have been doing The wrong grasp of religion can lead
lives. throughout the history of religion. man to justify his greed, hatred and
In this simile the Buddha pointed foolishness. His distorted views,
out that if a man who, after crossing distorted perception and distorted
over the vast expanse of water by consciousness force him to grasp a
a raft, were to determine to carry religion wrongly and undermine its
the raft over his shoulders, thinking very foundation, causing more pain
by doing so he would show his and suffering -- as does the wrong
gratitude to the raft for helping him grasp of the snake.
to save his life, he would be foolish.
A wrong grasp of religion can
The simile of snake-catcher used by always be a passageway to defeat
the Buddha in the aforementioned the very purpose of religion and
Sutta is also equally indispensable encourage people to commit
in illustrating the danger of the atrocities in the name of one’s faith.
wrong grasp of a religion. If a People sometimes not only cling to
