A student approached a Zen master, eager to understand the path to enlightenment. “Master,” the student asked, “How do I attain enlightenment?” The master smiled and said, “Imagine you are crossing a river. To reach the other shore, you must first row the boat across. Once you have reached the shore, you will no longer need to cross the river. Similarly, to understand enlightenment, you must first walk the path and practice the teachings. But once you reach it, the journey itself will no longer be needed.” The story teaches that enlightenment is not a destination but a continuous journey that transforms as we progress.