On the Two Arrows

There is a famous Buddhist parable regarding two arrows. A man is struck by an arrow. There is pain. The man starts worrying if he will bleed out. If he is going to catch an infection. If he will be crippled for life. These thoughts are the second arrow. They manifest as regret, worry, and despair. They arise from resisting reality.

Life involves pain. Suffering is optional. Suffering is the second arrow that we inflict to ourselves. It comes from clinging to the past. Of wanting things to be different from what they are.

As long as we cling, we are living in the past. It means we are no longer present to whatever is actually unfolding and continuously bringing old pain into the present.

Why do we do this?

We hold on to pain because it is familiar. Because we fear change. It is easier to live in denial and continue as we've always have instead of adapting to a new reality and not knowing what will happen.

The Tao Te Ching has a line that translates roughly to "the great way is easy, yet people prefer the side path". The great way is not striking yourself with a second arrow. This means less suffering. In that way, it is easy. But the majority of us take the side path. The one that holds on to the pain. Because it is familiar. Because we don’t have to change.

When you get struck by an arrow, there is pain. This is unavoidable. But the greater pain is the second arrow which is self inflicted. This is optional.