An ordinary person can divorce his or her spouse, but a Buddha cannot divorce himself from sentient beings. It is paradoxical: the path to Buddhahood is lonely and solitary, yet once you reach Buddhahood you are never alone again. Sentient beings throughout time and space will seek your help and blessings.

Once, in Tokyo, I was walking by myself at night. I walked along narrow sidestreets and back alleys. I saw people here and there, but when I turned onto a wide avenue, I did not see anyone. I figured that the main streets were not a good place to walk, so I returned to the narrow alleys.

Most of us wander the outer paths and follow the heterodox teachings, just as I kept to the back alleys. Buddhadharma is a wide highway, but it is relatively untraveled. As a sentient being, you keep to the narrow streets, because everyone else does the same. You are comforted by the sight of people. You will not meet many people on the wide road, and by the time you near your destination ─ Buddhahood ─ you will be alone. There will be no friend to help you, no enemy to quarrel with. It is a solitary road to Buddhahood.