[Verse 1]
Beside the Ganges, long ago,
A humble boatman helped the people go.
From one shore to the other side,
He served with patience, strength, and pride.
Then Padumuttara came that day,
With monks whose inner stains had passed away.
He gathered boats and made them ready,
His hands were skilled, his heart was steady.
Pre-Chorus
A little boat across the stream,
A simple act, a heartfelt dream.
The smallest deed, when done with care,
Can grow into a gift we share.
Chorus
Sail, sail, boat of goodness,
Carry hearts across the sea.
Let our hands become a kindness,
Let compassion set us free.
Sail, sail, beyond believing,
Practice wisdom every day.
Help the weary, ease their grieving,
Let the truth light up the way.
Verse 2
Through changing lives, the years rolled on,
Until the time of Gotama dawned.
As Revata, he left his home,
To walk the path where truth is known.
With diligent effort, calm and clear,
He faced the things that bind us here.
Through insight, wisdom, and release,
He found the freedom known as peace.
Bridge
We may not own a boat of gold,
But kindness is a gift we hold.
A helping hand, a patient heart,
Can give another soul a start.
Yet let us look within as well,
And learn the truths our minds must tell.
With mindful steps and wisdom bright,
We move from darkness into light.
Chorus
Sail, sail, boat of goodness,
Carry hearts across the sea.
Let our hands become a kindness,
Let compassion set us free.
Sail, sail, beyond believing,
Practice wisdom every day.
Help the weary, ease their grieving,
Let the truth light up the way.
Outro
Across the river, shore to shore,
A kind deed opens one more door.
With faith, with effort, wisdom too,
May peace and freedom grow in you.
Khadiravaniya Revata Thera Apadāna: The Boatman Who Ferried the Buddha Across the River
Background Story
The Khadiravaniya Revata Thera Apadāna, found in the Apadāna of the Khuddaka Nikāya, Buddha-vagga, in Tipiṭaka Volume 32, recounts the fruits of arranging a boat to ferry the Buddha and the Saṅgha across a river. The story highlights an act of service performed with faith, followed by diligent spiritual practice and the attainment of liberation.
According to the account, in a former existence, the future elder was a boatman working at a rough landing on the Bhāgīrasī, a river identified in the text as the Ganges, originating in the Himalayan region. His regular occupation was to ferry people from one bank to the other.
One day, the Buddha Padumuttara, accompanied by one hundred thousand arahants, was preparing to cross the river. The boatman gathered many boats and carefully prepared their canopies to welcome the Buddha and the community of monks.
When the Buddha boarded the boat and they reached the middle of the river, the Blessed One uttered verses foretelling the fruits of the boatman's act of service, which had been performed with a devoted mind.
The Buddha declared that one who ferried the Fully Enlightened Buddha and the monks free from mental defilements would enjoy heavenly rewards as a result of that faithful deed. The account describes a magnificent celestial mansion shaped like a boat, as well as future births as powerful kings.
In the era of Gotama Buddha, the same being was reborn as a Brahmin's son named Revata. Encouraged by his wholesome roots, he left household life and entered the Buddha's dispensation. After ordination, he devoted himself to diligent effort and the development of insight meditation.
Through his practice, he comprehended all the mental defilements known as āsavas and attained Nibbāna. He declared that he had realized the four analytical knowledges, the eight liberations, and the six supernormal knowledges, and that his task in the Buddha's teaching was complete.
The story presents a spiritual journey from serving others with faith to sustained effort and insight, culminating in liberation from the defilements.
Core Buddhist Teachings
1. Serving others with sincere faith
The boatman prepared the boats and canopies with care. His actions illustrate how ordinary work can become a meaningful act of service when performed with sincerity and respect.
2. Using one's abilities for the benefit of others
The boatman used his own skills and occupation to assist the Buddha and the Saṅgha. In modern life, people can similarly contribute through their knowledge, time, physical effort, or professional abilities.
3. Faith is a beginning, not the end
The account describes the fruits of the boatman's earlier wholesome deed. In a later life, Revata still had to renounce household life, practice diligently, and cultivate insight. This emphasizes the importance of continuing to develop oneself rather than relying only on past good deeds.
4. Diligence and insight meditation develop wisdom
After ordination, Revata practiced diligently and cultivated insight until he comprehended all the āsavas. The story highlights the role of sustained effort, careful observation, and wisdom in spiritual development.
5. Liberation is the ultimate goal
Although the narrative describes worldly and heavenly rewards, the elder's ultimate achievement was Nibbāna. The account invites readers to recognize the value of generosity while remembering that liberation from mental defilements is a central goal of Buddhist practice.
A Lesson for Modern Society
The boatman's story reminds us that service does not require great wealth or status. We can help others by using the abilities we already possess: a driver can assist a stranded traveler, a healthcare worker can care for patients, a teacher can share knowledge, and a community member can support people affected by disaster.
Acts of kindness are a valuable beginning. When accompanied by mindfulness, perseverance, and wisdom, they can also inspire deeper personal growth and a more compassionate society.
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