(６)接下來，也許有人想更了解佛法而問我們：

　　“可以用什麼比喻“法”？”

　　6) Now we may be asked next, for the sake of better understanding of the Dhamma,

　　6) “To what may the Dhamma be compared

　　”

　　佛陀說：““法”可比喻爲筏”，他用“筏”這個字是因爲當時普遍用筏渡河，以筏喻“法”很容易了解，這個比喻具有非常重大的意義，因爲它提醒我們，不應該去黏著“法”，以致忘了自己，而自高自大地以爲我是老師、學者或是哲學家。

　　THE BUDDHA SAID, “The Dhamma may be compared to a raft.” He used the word “raft” because in those days rafts were commonly used for crossing rivers, and this explanation of the Dharnma as a raft could be readily understood. This has a very important meaning. One should not become so attached to the Dhamma that one forgets oneself, that one becomes proud of being a teacher, a scholar, or a man of learning.

　　如果忘記“法”只是筏，將會引生以上的危機。

　　If one forgets that the Dhamma is just a raft, this danger will arise.

　　“法”是筏，是載我們渡彼岸的工具，一旦到了彼岸，並且上了陸，我們就不可能還愚蠢地背著筏。

　　The Dhamma is a raft, a vehicle that will carry us across to the other bank. Having reached the further shore and gone up on land, we should not be so foolish as to carry the raft along with us.

　　這在教導我們要以正確的方法使用它，而不要因執著它，以致忘了自己。如果不理解筏的用處，我們就會用它互相誇耀、爭執，有時或許還用它來競賽呢！這一切毫無是處，只是徒然耗損精力罷了！

　　This is meant to teach us to recognize and use the Dhamma as merely a means to an end, not to grasp at and cling to it to the point of forgetting ourselves. If we don”t recognize the true function of this raft, we may find ourselves keeping it for show or as something to quarrel over. Sometimes it is regarded as a race to be run, which is wasteful and useless.

　　“法”如筏，它應該被正確地應用于渡過河流。

　　It should be used as intended, for crossing over, for crossing the stream.

　　“法”比喻爲筏，“法”的智慧應該用來渡過苦海，不應該以它爲唇槍舌劍而相互傷害；不可執著它，甚至已到岸、登陸了，還背著筏，不願與它分手。“法”比喻爲筏，還意味著不論在家人或出家人都一樣可以應用它。

　　 Knowledge of Dhamma should be used to cross over beyond suffering. It should not be retained for detrimental purposes, for fighting with that sharp-edged weapon the tongue, for arguing, or as an object of ceremonial obeisance. Finally, don”t grasp at and cling to it so that, even after having reached the shore, having landed, you are not willing to leave the raft behind., but want to carry if along with you.