A Gift of Dharma for 9.26.10
by Danny Fisher
Today’s quote comes from Siddhartha Gautama (circa fifth and/or sixth century B.C.E.)–the historical Buddha and de facto progenitor of the Buddhist religions. This is it:
Just as the ocean has a gradual shelf, a gradual slope, a gradual inclination, with a sudden drop-off only after a long stretch, in the same way this Doctrine and Discipline (dhamma-vinaya) has a gradual training, a gradual performance, a gradual progression, with a penetration to gnosis only after a long stretch.
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Fun. I don’t think he traveled to an ocean. So, was this a common saying at the time for many teachers in many faiths or did someone add this later and they weren’t Buddha’s words.
Also, not all oceans are like that at all. So where did the real writer live.
To me, all interesting question. But it is a fun teaching tool.