In Buddhist terminology, the realm of nirvana is called "the opposite shore." The opposite shore is enlightenment, a state of mind in which one is free and autonomous and has transcended all suffering and delusion. It is, in other words, the realm of the Buddha. In contrast, the world of delusion in which we live--the world of ignorant, ordinary human beings who are confused and shaken by the changes in their lives--is called "this shore."

The great purpose of Buddhism is to ferry all people from this shore, the world of delusion, to the opposite shore, the realm of nirvana. We tend to think of the two shores as absolutely separate, divided as if by a river. But both are part of earthly existence and thus are joined. Likewise, delusion and enlightenment are indivisible. They are like nested concave and convex forms. If we look at delusion from another angle, it is a manifestation of the desire for salvation and enlightenment.

The greater our delusion, the stronger our desire for enlightenment and salvation. The worse our delusion, the more depressed we are. But without delusion, the wish for salvation and enlightenment would not arise. People are deluded precisely because they have the ability to solve all sorts of problems; and for the same reason, they have the power to rid themselves of delusion.

We can see that delusion and enlightenment, just like this shore and the opposite shore, make up a whole. When we awaken to this, we also realize that we are all essentially saved already. For Buddhists, it is daily religious practice that carries us from one shore to the other. But rather than say that our practice ferries us across, it is perhaps more accurate to say that it awakens us naturally to our true selves.