Summer is fast approaching, and many of us are thrilled to get outside, plan trips, or just relax at the beach. These activities, though, take effort. You need to carve out time, save some money, and actually make it happen. If you’re able to do all this, it’s a great sign that your physical, mental, and energetic health are in good shape!
When you’re dealing with pain or poor health, making plans feels nearly impossible. Instead, you might feel anxious, worry about things getting worse, or view everything negatively. Even simple daily tasks can feel like an obstacle course, and you might feel caught in an emotional whirlwind. Just a few months ago, I hurt my lower back. Since then, I’ve felt weaker and enjoyed fewer activities, experiencing emotional turbulence as the pain spreads to other parts and layers of my body and mind.
The Buddha’s Wisdom: The Two Arrows
This experience reminds me of a famous Buddhist parable called “The Two Arrows,” from the Samyutta Nikaya 36.6, Sallatha Sutta. The Buddha once said:
“Imagine someone gets shot with an arrow,” the Buddha began. “It hurts, right? Now, imagine they immediately get shot with a second arrow in the same spot. The pain from the first arrow is bad enough, but the second one makes it so much worse.”
“That’s how it is for most people, the ‘uninstructed’ ones, when they face pain. When something bad happens—like they get sick, lose someone, or fail at something—they feel the first arrow: the physical or initial emotional pain. But then, they add a second arrow: their reaction to the pain. They start to sorrow, grieve, complain, beat themselves up, and become completely distraught. This means they feel two pains: the original physical or emotional pain, and the added mental suffering they create for themselves.”
What a powerful lesson this parable offers: we will inevitably encounter pain, but suffering is largely a product of how we respond to or resist that pain. This realization empowers us, as it means we have a choice. There’s real hope here! Instead of being consumed by suffering, we can cultivate a compassionate and caring response to our pain. For me, dealing with my back pain was a clear illustration; while the pain itself was unavoidable, adjusting my yoga routine and lifestyle allowed me to avoid much of the mental agitation.
Join us in the next post as we explore how the mind works in yoga. Understanding the mind is the first step toward freeing yourself from suffering and overcoming common obstacles on the path.
Reference
- “Sallatha Sutta: The Arrow (SN36.6), translated from the Pali by Thanissaro Bhikkhu.” Access to Insight, 30 November 2013, http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/sn/sn36/sn36.006.than.html. Accessed 28 May 2025.