In the Majjhima Nikaya we read of the Buddha teaching his students through a parable. The Buddha describes a man on a journey who comes to a body of water. The man has to cross the water. There are no bridges or boats. The water is too wide to swim and too deep to wade. The man has only one choice, to make a raft.
The Buddha explains how the man collects "grass, twigs, branches, leaves" and other material at hand and builds a raft.
After binding together all the elements of the raft, the man, making an effort with his hands and feet, crosses the body of water.
When the man arrives at the opposite shore he realizes even though the raft has been extremely useful there is no point in carrying it with him.
The Buddha concludes his teaching, "I have shown you how the dharma is similar to a raft, being for the purpose of crossing over, not for the purpose of grasping."
This parable shows the dharma is a tool not an end in itself that has to preserved as is in perpetuity.
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