--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: A raft needed to cross the river is…" description: "\"A raft needed to cross the river is discarded when the other shore is reached, not carried about on one's head.\" — Gautama Buddha" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f00/gautama-buddha-163_crosses_a-raft-needed-to-cross-the-river-is-disc_2546318.jpg" --- # A raft needed to cross the river is discarded when the… ![“A raft needed to cross the river is discarded when the other shore is reached, not carried about on one's head.” quote by Gautama Buddha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f00/gautama-buddha-163_crosses_a-raft-needed-to-cross-the-river-is-disc_2546318.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f00/gautama-buddha-163_crosses_a-raft-needed-to-cross-the-river-is-disc_2546318.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f00/gautama-buddha-163_crosses_a-raft-needed-to-cross-the-river-is-disc_2546318.jpg) > “A raft needed to cross the river is discarded when the other shore is reached, not carried about on one's head.” [Gautama Buddha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gautama-buddha/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Let go of tools once they have served their purpose; cling to them only when needed. **In simple terms:** Discard unneeded things after use. Key Takeaway Release attachments after utility ends. Themes impermanence detachment mindfulness Mood reflective calm Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - travel - moving house - project completion - resource management Key Concepts non‑attachment utility transience Questions to Reflect On - What belongings could you release now? - How does letting go affect your mental space? A Different Perspective Holding onto excess can cause burden and stress. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [River](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/river/) [Rivers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rivers/) ## Related quotes > [“If you have to cross a river, you shall cross the river! Through swimming, through a raft, through walking, through any way possible, you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/if-you-have-to-cross-a-river-you-shall-cross-the-river-through/) [Mehmet Murat ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/) > [“City Point is so beautiful, she says. In the night they cannot see the garbage that litters the beach, the seaweed and driftwood, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-mailer/city-point-is-so-beautiful-she-says-in-the-night-they-cannot-see-the/) [Norman Mailer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-mailer/) > [Few cross over the river. Most are stranded on this side. On the riverbank they run up and down. But the wise man, following…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gautama-buddha/few-cross-over-the-river-most-are-stranded-on-this-side-on-the/) [Gautama Buddha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gautama-buddha/) > [To insist on a spiritual practice that served you in the past is to carry the raft on your back after you have crossed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gautama-buddha/to-insist-on-a-spiritual-practice-that-served-you-in-the-past-is-to/) [Gautama Buddha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gautama-buddha/) > [Don't burn bridges. You'll be surprised how many times you have to cross the same river.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-jackson-brown-jr/don-t-burn-bridges-you-ll-be-surprised-how-many-times-you-have-to/) [H. Jackson Brown, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-jackson-brown-jr/) > [Cross the river by feeling for stones under one's feet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deng-xiaoping/cross-the-river-by-feeling-for-stones-under-one-s-feet/) [Deng Xiaoping](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deng-xiaoping/) > [“Let us cross the river to the other side and rest beneath the shade of the trees. \[Stonwall Jackson just before passing into eternity…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jackson/let-us-cross-the-river-to-the-other-side-and-rest-beneath-the-shade/) Thomas Jackson > [“Let us cross over the river, and rest in the shade of the trees.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jackson/let-us-cross-over-the-river-and-rest-in-the-shade-of-the-trees/) Thomas Jackson > [If you're going to cry, do it for moments missed, opportunities not taken, people not appreciated, dreams not followed and love not reciprocated. Then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-you-re-going-to-cry-do-it-for-moments-missed-opportunities-not/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [In the rainy season, sometimes to get to the first lesson we had to run really quick, because we had to cross the river…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/haile-gebrselassie/in-the-rainy-season-sometimes-to-get-to-the-first-lesson-we-had-to/) [Haile Gebrselassie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/haile-gebrselassie/) > [You can't even cross a river without having to pay a toll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/archilochus/you-can-t-even-cross-a-river-without-having-to-pay-a-toll/) [Archilochus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/archilochus/) > [i have to cross the river of extreme awkwardness in order to get to the paradise on the other side.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-levithan/i-have-to-cross-the-river-of-extreme-awkwardness-in-order-to-get-to/) [David Levithan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-levithan/) > [“Avoid hating people because you might have destroyed the bridge you have just used to cross the river; you'll need that bridge to cross…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/israelmore-ayivor/avoid-hating-people-because-you-might-have-destroyed-the-bridge-you/) [israelmore ayivor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/israelmore-ayivor/) > [Let us cross over the river and rest under the shade of the trees.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/let-us-cross-over-the-river-and-rest-under-the-shade-of-the-trees/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [For soon the body is discarded, Then what does it feel? A useless log of wood, it lies on the ground, Then what does…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gautama-buddha/for-soon-the-body-is-discarded-then-what-does-it-feel-a-useless-log/) [Gautama Buddha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gautama-buddha/) ## More by Gautama Buddha > [Before you've seen it, and when you first see it, it is the greatest thing; afterwards, it is ordinary.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gautama-buddha/before-you-ve-seen-it-and-when-you-first-see-it-it-is-the-greatest/) [Gautama Buddha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gautama-buddha/) > [One of his students asked Buddha, "Are you the Messiah?" "No," answered Buddha. "Then are you a healer?" "No," Buddha replied. "Then are you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gautama-buddha/one-of-his-students-asked-buddha-are-you-the-messiah-no-answered/) [Gautama Buddha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gautama-buddha/) > [Give thanks for what had been given to you, However little. Be pure, never falter.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gautama-buddha/give-thanks-for-what-had-been-given-to-you-however-little-be-pure/) [Gautama Buddha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gautama-buddha/) > [For fear of causing terror to living beings, Mahamati, let the Bodhisattva who is disciplining himself to attain compassion, refrain from eating flesh.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gautama-buddha/for-fear-of-causing-terror-to-living-beings-mahamati-let-the/) [Gautama Buddha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gautama-buddha/) > [Be lamps unto yourselves. Be refuges unto yourselves. Take yourself no external refuge. Hold fast to the truth as a lamp. Hold fast to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gautama-buddha/be-lamps-unto-yourselves-be-refuges-unto-yourselves-take-yourself-no/) [Gautama Buddha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gautama-buddha/) > [Speak only the speech that neither torments self nor does harm to others. That speech is truly well spoken.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gautama-buddha/speak-only-the-speech-that-neither-torments-self-nor-does-harm-to/) [Gautama Buddha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gautama-buddha/) > [Pain is the outcome of sin.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gautama-buddha/pain-is-the-outcome-of-sin/) [Gautama Buddha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gautama-buddha/) > [It is because I perceive the danger in the practice of mystic wonders, that I loath, abhor, and am ashamed thereof.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gautama-buddha/it-is-because-i-perceive-the-danger-in-the-practice-of-mystic-wonders/) [Gautama Buddha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gautama-buddha/) > [So too, monks, I saw the ancient path, the ancient road traveled by the Perfectly Enlightened Ones of the past. And what is that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gautama-buddha/so-too-monks-i-saw-the-ancient-path-the-ancient-road-traveled-by-the/) [Gautama Buddha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gautama-buddha/) > [If one is the master of oneself, one is the resort one can depend on; therefore, one should control oneself of all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gautama-buddha/if-one-is-the-master-of-oneself-one-is-the-resort-one-can-depend-on/) [Gautama Buddha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gautama-buddha/) > [Watch the thought and its ways with care, and let it spring from love born out of concern for all beings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gautama-buddha/watch-the-thought-and-its-ways-with-care-and-let-it-spring-from-love/) [Gautama Buddha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gautama-buddha/) > [One is not low because of birth nor does birth make one holy. Deeds alone make one low, deeds alone make one holy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gautama-buddha/one-is-not-low-because-of-birth-nor-does-birth-make-one-holy-deeds/) [Gautama Buddha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gautama-buddha/) > [He who causes suffering shall suffer. There is no escape.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gautama-buddha/he-who-causes-suffering-shall-suffer-there-is-no-escape/) [Gautama Buddha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gautama-buddha/) > [If a person does not harm any living being...and does not kill or cause others to kill - that person is a true spiritual…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gautama-buddha/if-a-person-does-not-harm-any-living-being-and-does-not-kill-or-cause/) [Gautama Buddha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gautama-buddha/) > [The fool says, "These are my sons, this is my land, this is my money." In reality, the fool does not own himself, much…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gautama-buddha/the-fool-says-these-are-my-sons-this-is-my-land-this-is-my-money-in/) [Gautama Buddha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gautama-buddha/) [Explore all 1,043 Gautama Buddha quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gautama-buddha/) ## More Crosses quotes > [My team mates are fundamental for my characteristics, if they send in crosses I can play inside the area.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/filippo-inzaghi/my-team-mates-are-fundamental-for-my-characteristics-if-they-send-in/) [Filippo Inzaghi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/filippo-inzaghi/) > [The old men of the village of Mahotière say that the Mistress of the Water is a mulatto woman. At midnight she comes out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-roumain/the-old-men-of-the-village-of-mahoti-re-say-that-the-mistress-of-the/) [Jacques Roumain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-roumain/) > [When the Lord Jesus Christ became my surety . . . He went to Calvary's cross, and all my guilt was charged against Him.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-allen-ironside/when-the-lord-jesus-christ-became-my-surety-he-went-to-calvary-s/) [Henry Allen Ironside](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-allen-ironside/) > [Whoever does not seek the cross of Christ doesn't seek the glory of Christ.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-of-the-cross/whoever-does-not-seek-the-cross-of-christ-doesn-t-seek-the-glory-of/) [John of the Cross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-of-the-cross/) > [Nothing teaches great writing like the very best books do. Yet, good teachers often help students cross that bridge, and I have to say…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-glass/nothing-teaches-great-writing-like-the-very-best-books-do-yet-good/) [Julia Glass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-glass/) > [...it was a huge creature, luminous, ghastly, and spectral. I have cross-examined these men, one of them a hard-headed countryman, one a farrier, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-conan-doyle/it-was-a-huge-creature-luminous-ghastly-and-spectral-i-have-cross/) [Arthur Conan Doyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-conan-doyle/) > [I am not a great believer in dialectical struggle. I am much more of a fusion person. I see it as a dialogue, or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marina-warner/i-am-not-a-great-believer-in-dialectical-struggle-i-am-much-more-of-a/) [Marina Warner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marina-warner/) > [“To my fellow Crosses, keep the faith.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malorie-blackman/to-my-fellow-crosses-keep-the-faith/) [Malorie Blackman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malorie-blackman/) > [I told my mom I was going to do a movie about a son who hears a story about his mom and takes her…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-fogelman/i-told-my-mom-i-was-going-to-do-a-movie-about-a-son-who-hears-a-story/) [Dan Fogelman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-fogelman/) > [I think in black communities today we need to encourage a lot more cross racial organizing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angela-davis/i-think-in-black-communities-today-we-need-to-encourage-a-lot-more/) [Angela Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angela-davis/) > [ \[The Community's\] crosses and trials give me confidence. But I derive my hope above all, and most especially, from our utter incapacity, for it… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-guerin/the-community-s-crosses-and-trials-give-me-confidence-but-i-derive-my/) [Theodore Guerin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-guerin/) > [Never forget that the road to Heaven is the Way of the Cross. Jesus has called us to follow Him, bearing the Cross as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rose-philippine-duchesne/never-forget-that-the-road-to-heaven-is-the-way-of-the-cross-jesus/) [Rose Philippine Duchesne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rose-philippine-duchesne/) > [Lord, send Your life throughout the entire church. Visit Your church; restore sound doctrine and holy, earnest living. Take away from professing Christians their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-spurgeon/lord-send-your-life-throughout-the-entire-church-visit-your-church/) [Charles Spurgeon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-spurgeon/) > [When Jesus Christ shed his blood on the cross, it was not the blood of a martyr; or the blood of one man for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oswald-chambers/when-jesus-christ-shed-his-blood-on-the-cross-it-was-not-the-blood-of/) [Oswald Chambers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oswald-chambers/) > [Pay no heed to the passing religious vogue. Go back to the grass roots. Open your hearts and search the Scriptures. Bear your cross,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aiden-wilson-tozer/pay-no-heed-to-the-passing-religious-vogue-go-back-to-the-grass-roots/) [Aiden Wilson Tozer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aiden-wilson-tozer/) Browse all 2,897 Crosses quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "A raft needed to cross the river is discarded when the other shore is reached, not carried about on one's head.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Gautama Buddha" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gautama-buddha/a-raft-needed-to-cross-the-river-is-discarded-when-the-other-shore-is/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Crosses" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gautama-buddha/a-raft-needed-to-cross-the-river-is-discarded-when-the-other-shore-is/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f00/gautama-buddha-163_crosses_a-raft-needed-to-cross-the-river-is-disc_2546318.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f00/gautama-buddha-163_crosses_a-raft-needed-to-cross-the-river-is-disc_2546318.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f00/gautama-buddha-163_crosses_a-raft-needed-to-cross-the-river-is-disc_2546318.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“A raft needed to cross the river is discarded when the other shore is reached, not carried about on one's…” — Gautama Buddha", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Gautama Buddha", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gautama-buddha/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "A raft needed to cross the...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gautama-buddha/a-raft-needed-to-cross-the-river-is-discarded-when-the-other-shore-is/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gautama-buddha/a-raft-needed-to-cross-the-river-is-discarded-when-the-other-shore-is/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```