ABSTRACT
In Buddhist literature, as distinct from literature about Buddhism, the metaphor of "the other shore" appears frequently. Enlightenment or the condition of freedom is often described as being on the other shore. The root of the metaphor is also used in common simile, which makes crucial point when it is carefully listened to. Fortunately or unfortunately, the practice of zazen is an affair of steps. With each of these steps the Zen student gets to another shore. The description of Zen Buddhism as "sudden enlightenment" Buddhism has obscured this progression, although it is true in its way. For it easily leads person to think of "the other shore" as absolutely another shore and only as an absolutely other shore. It might finally be mentioned that some sort of dualism is endemic in Western thought. It may be in Eastern thought too, but if so it would not have the influence of obscuring zazen for the Westerner that Western dualism does.
