A Story is told of how one day an explorer returned to his people who were eager to know about the Amazon. But how could he put into words all the wonderful things that he had seen: the feelings that flooded his ear when he saw exotic flowers and heard the night sounds of the forests; when he sensed the danger of wild beasts or paddles his canoe over treacherous rapids?
             He said, "For and find out for yourselves". To guide them he drew a map of the river. They pounced upon the map. They farmed it in their Town Hall. They made copies of it for themselves. And all who had a copy considered themselves experts on the river, but did they know its every turn and bend, how broad it was, how deep, where the rapids were and where the falls?
             - The Buddha said that his teachings were to be tried out in life. It was a practical way to overcome suffering and to find true happiness. He taught people how to believe what he told them just because he said it, but to test his teachings in their own experience and follow it if it proved true. "It is often said that the Buddha's teaching is only a raft to help you cross the river, a finger pointing to the moon. Don't mistake the finger for the moon. The raft is not the shore." It has also been said of the Buddha's teachings: "A knowledge of the path cannot be substituted for putting one foot in front of the other!"
             The story of Kisa Gotami and the mustard seed.
             On one occasion a woman called Gotami came to the Buddha in tears, holding the body of her dead baby son. She was so upset that she had gone everywhere to try to bring him back to life. Her friends felt sorry for her and told her to go to see the Buddha. She came before the Buddha still holding the child in her arms. "Please bring him back to life for me," she cried. Very gently the Buddha answered: "I can help you, Gotami, but first you must bring me something. I nee...