The Poisoned Arrow: A Buddhist Story Of Living In The Present
One of the greatest principles of the Buddha was to live in the present. We can see how some of his principles are related to today’s “mindfulness”. But if we look at Buddhist stories, like this one about the poisoned arrow, we see that things have not changed much despite the centuries.
One of the Buddha’s most famous quotes goes like this: “Do not stay in the past, do not dream of the future, concentrate your mind on the present.” Today and to this day, it seems appropriate to emphasize this deep aspect of Buddhism with the story of the poisoned arrow…
The Poisoned Arrow, a Buddhist story
It is a series of texts collected in the Palikanon attributed to the Buddha and is known as Majjhima Nikaya. It contains many stories, including this one about the poisoned arrow.
Apparently, the Buddha told this story to one of his most impatient students. The young man was eager to get answers to his questions about life after death.
So the Buddha told him how it was once a man who had been wounded by a poisoned arrow. And when his family wanted to find a doctor to help him, the man said no.
The wounded man who was about to die said that before any doctor tried to help him, he wanted to know who had attacked him. What was the reason for that and where was he from?
He also wanted to know the other man’s height, strength, skin tone, what kind of bow he was using, and whether the string was made of hemp, silk or bamboo.
So, while wondering if the arrow’s feathers came from a vulture, peacock or falcon, and if the bow was common, curved or made of oleander, he ended up dying before getting answers to any of his questions.
What is the story of the poisoned arrow trying to tell us?
This attitude of a man who was so close to death sounds pretty absurd, right? But if we bring this scenario to other situations in life, are not there times when we act as the wounded warrior as well?
It may be unconscious, but sometimes we focus too much on issues that are actually insignificant, for fear of confronting those who are really important.
We leave the missing heart unknown, while we worry about problems that are relatively insignificant at the time.
So then, with this story, the Buddha tried to show his student how we need intelligence to separate the important from what we can do without. Because, at any given moment, it can make the difference between overcoming a problem or overcoming it.
Focus your attention on what is really worth it
It is not that being distracted has no benefits. The problem is when distractions appear all the time, without any real purpose.
That is, when a problem needs to be solved, it is sometimes best to go straight to the roots. Let branches be for other animal species. Otherwise, we can only make the problem worse.
Go step by step
In some places they say: “Olives eaten, seeds thrown away.” This simple saying suggests that once you have solved one problem, focus on the next. Compare that to the famous saying, “Do not eat more than you can chew.”
Let the world flow
There are also many times when we allow too many problems to affect us and fill our thoughts. But maybe it’s better to let the world flow. It can keep our brain from filling up with anxiety, anger, sadness or frustration.
Get rid of the unnecessary
Let’s go back to folk wisdom. A lot of the time it is very wise and worth listening to. “He who has little and wants less is richer than he who has much and wants more.”
Sometimes we think that in order to be happy, we must get what we do not have. But when you get used to living with only what is necessary, and you deepen your knowledge, you will see that you did not lack much.
The love of someone you love is far more valuable than any unnecessary, excessive or expensive possession.
Leonardo da Vinci once said that “simplicity is the ultimate satisfaction.” The Buddha’s story of the poisoned arrow is centered around the same idea. Two radiant minds. There’s not much more to add to it, is there?
