[280] The Blessed One said this: "Bhikkhus, suppose a man traveling along a long road were to see a great expanse of water, whose near shore was perilous and fraught with fear and whose far shore was safe and free from fear; and there were neither a boat for crossing over nor a bridge for going from the near shore to the far shore. It would occur to him: 'This is a great expanse of water; its near shore is perilous and fraught with fear, its far shore safe and free from fear; and there is neither a boat for crossing over nor a bridge for going from the near shore to the far shore. Suppose I were to gather grass, sticks, branches, and leaves, bind them into a raft, and, relying on that raft, striving with my hands and feet, cross over safely to the far shore.' Then, bhikkhus, that man, having gathered grass, sticks, branches, and leaves and bound them into a raft, relying on that raft, striving with his hands and feet, would cross over safely to the far shore. When he had crossed over and gone to the far shore, it might occur to him: 'This raft has been of great service to me. Relying on this raft, striving with my hands and feet, I have crossed over safely to the far shore. Suppose I were to hoist this raft upon my head or lift it onto my shoulder, and then go wherever I wish.' What do you think, bhikkhus? Would that man, acting thus, be doing what should be done with that raft?"
"No, venerable sir."
"And how, bhikkhus, would that man be doing what should be done with that raft? Here, bhikkhus, when that man had crossed over and gone to the far shore, it might occur to him: 'This raft has been of great service to me. Relying on this raft, striving with my hands and feet, I have crossed over safely to the far shore. Suppose I were to haul this raft up onto dry land or set it adrift in the water, and then go wherever I wish.' Acting thus, bhikkhus, that man would be doing what should be done with that raft. In the same way, bhikkhus, the Dhamma has been taught by me with the simile of the raft (kullūpama) — for the purpose of crossing over, not for the purpose of grasping. Understanding the Dhamma taught to you with the simile of the raft, you should abandon even dhammas, how much more what is contrary to dhamma (adhammā)."
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.