Emotional Freedom

Living Free from the Second Arrow

We all experience sadness, suffering, and anger in our lives. Sometimes things do not go as we hope, or we are hurt by the unkind words of others. Yet there is a difference between experiencing suffering and allowing that suffering to take control of our hearts.

In Buddhism, there is a teaching known as "The Second Arrow."

The Second Arrow

As long as we have physical bodies,
we cannot avoid the blows of fate
that bring suffering and sorrow
in this three-dimensional world.
This is called the first arrow.

Yet those who diligently pursue spiritual practice
do not suffer the second arrow.
They do not allow poison to enter their hearts
or their delusions to grow.
Free from attachment to desires,
their minds remain calm and peaceful.
They are as free as little birds
flying across the blue sky.

The first arrow represents the suffering we cannot always avoid in life. The second arrow, however, arises from how we respond to that suffering.

There is a simple parable about a man who was bitten by a poisonous snake.

Instead of seeking treatment, the man became furious and chased after the snake, determined to take revenge. While he was consumed by anger and trying to catch it, the poison spread through his body. Eventually, he collapsed and died.

The snake had bitten him only once. But by allowing his anger to take control, he lost his chance to save himself.

This story illustrates how we often respond to suffering.

When someone hurts us, we may feel the urge to strike back. Expressing our anger may bring a momentary sense of relief or even satisfaction. In a way, anger offers us a form of pleasure. Yet this pleasure does not resolve our suffering. It merely distracts us from the original pain.

Trying to overcome suffering through anger is like adding more poison to something already poisoned. We not only hurt others but also leave new wounds in our own hearts. Having already been struck by the first arrow, we end up striking ourselves with the second.

So how can we avoid the second arrow?

The key lies in the spiritual awareness that "I am not this physical body."

Our true nature is not our physical body but an eternal soul. Likewise, the anger, sadness, and anxiety that arise within us are not our true selves.

We do not need to deny or suppress our emotions. What matters is that we do not allow them to take control of our hearts.

When we face suffering, we have a choice. Will we surrender to anger, or will we step back and look at the situation from a higher perspective? It is in making this choice that we discover the power of our souls.

The more deeply we recognize ourselves as spiritual beings beyond our physical bodies, the less we are controlled by external circumstances and passing emotions.

True freedom does not mean following wherever our emotions lead us. It means becoming the master of our own hearts.

Even if we cannot avoid the first arrow, we do not have to suffer the second.

Like little birds flying freely across the blue sky, we too can rise above our attachment to anger and sadness and discover true freedom of the heart.

In this weekend's online seminar, "Emotional Freedom," on October 24 and 25, we will explore the wisdom of "The Second Arrow" and learn how to free ourselves from the control of our emotions and rediscover the freedom that belongs to our souls.