“Teacher, it is said you have spoken of the four reliances in relation to the parable of the snake. Could you explain the message in the parable and how it relates to the four reliances?”
“Indeed. Amid a certain community of monks there was a known prankster. One day, as the monks gathered in the courtyard for meditation, the prankster points and says, “Careful, there lies a snake.” Knowing the nature of the prankster, the skeptical monks looked to where he pointed and there they too saw a coiled snake. The monks took heed to stay clear of the snake. One astute monk took notice and realized that the snake did not move, and from head to tail its girth seemed too uniform. As he cautiously approached the snake, he soon realized it to be a coil of rope. Grabbing the rope, to show the others, the monk was bit on the hand by a snake that lay hid in the coil of rope.”
“As the monks first doubted the prankster’s statement, rely not merely on the person but on the words.”
“As the monks, upon investigation, accepted what the prankster said, rely not merely on the words but on their meaning.”
“As the astute monk who on deeper reflection questioned initial observations, rely not merely on provisional meaning but on definitive meaning.”
“As the astute monk who discovered conceptual truth and experience differ, rely not merely on intellectual understanding but on direct experience.”
“Do you understand the message in the parable of the snake, my son?”
Wherein the student replied, “The snake that lies in the coils of a rope in the coils of the rope lies, likewise truth by truth is often hid.”
“Good. Good. Very good. You have understood.”