Where is the Buddha?

A monk embarked on a long pilgrimage to find the Buddha. He wandered fruitlessly for several years until he reached a river. Across the river, it was said, was the home of the Buddha. The monk got into the boat, excited at the prospect of reaching his goal. As the boatman rowed, the monk saw a corpse in the water, floating towards their boat.

The body drifted close to touching distance and the monk saw to his horror that the corpse’s face was – his own! Unable to control himself, he broke down, screaming and crying. That was the beginning of his enlightenment.

The Buddha is everywhere. But how do we find him? With the help of our body or by casting off the body?