One
of the most overused new-age/Buddhist terms in the English
speaking world is "letting go". Below are few of the more poignant lessons that I have come across. These are written in my own words and not necessarily direct quotes from the sources.
speaking world is "letting go". Below are few of the more poignant lessons that I have come across. These are written in my own words and not necessarily direct quotes from the sources.
The First and the Second Arrow
The Buddha once asked a student, “If a person is struck by an arrow is
it painful?” The student replied, “It is.” The Buddha then asked, “If
the person is struck by a second arrow, is that even more painful?”
The student replied again, “It is.” The Buddha then explained, “In
life, we cannot always control the first arrow. However, the second
arrow is our reaction to the first. This second arrow is optional.”
The Buddha once asked a student, “If a person is struck by an arrow is
it painful?” The student replied, “It is.” The Buddha then asked, “If
the person is struck by a second arrow, is that even more painful?”
The student replied again, “It is.” The Buddha then explained, “In
life, we cannot always control the first arrow. However, the second
arrow is our reaction to the first. This second arrow is optional.”
The Weight of the Stick
Ajahn Brahm's mentor and teach once picked up a stick and
asked, "How
heavy is this stick?" Before he could answer, Ajahn Brahm's teacher threw the
stick away and replied, "It's only heavy if you hold on to it."
The Folly of Attachment
Note: Ajahn Brahm taught this lesson through one of this lectures entitled "The Four Ways of Letting Go". I encourage you all to listen to this yourselves - it's available on Youtube.
Note: Ajahn Brahm taught this lesson through one of this lectures entitled "The Four Ways of Letting Go". I encourage you all to listen to this yourselves - it's available on Youtube.
If
a person hurts you once, let it go. If you continue to think about
it, you are allowing that person to hurt you yet again. Does that make
sense? It's silly. You attach yourself to the pain and get angry.
Every time you get angry you are letting them hurt you twice over.
Throw it away. Let it go.
it, you are allowing that person to hurt you yet again. Does that make
sense? It's silly. You attach yourself to the pain and get angry.
Every time you get angry you are letting them hurt you twice over.
Throw it away. Let it go.
Carrying a Woman
A senior buddhist monk and an apprentice were walking back to temple
after a violent rain storm. Along the way, they came across a young
woman who was trying to cross a muddied path with difficulty. The
senior monk went up to the woman and carried her on his back across
the path. The apprentice was shocked at this bold action since monks
were not to have any contact with women. After some time walking in
silence, the apprentice monk could keep quiet no longer and said:
"Brother, we are monks who have taken an oath to disavow the things of
this world. And yet you touched a woman...why?"
Continuing to walk forward, without stopping or turning to the
apprentice, the senior monk replied with a smile: "Yes, I carried
that woman to help her in her time of need. But, I left her back at
the muddied path so long ago. It seems, Brother, that you are the one
who is still carrying her".
A senior buddhist monk and an apprentice were walking back to temple
after a violent rain storm. Along the way, they came across a young
woman who was trying to cross a muddied path with difficulty. The
senior monk went up to the woman and carried her on his back across
the path. The apprentice was shocked at this bold action since monks
were not to have any contact with women. After some time walking in
silence, the apprentice monk could keep quiet no longer and said:
"Brother, we are monks who have taken an oath to disavow the things of
this world. And yet you touched a woman...why?"
Continuing to walk forward, without stopping or turning to the
apprentice, the senior monk replied with a smile: "Yes, I carried
that woman to help her in her time of need. But, I left her back at
the muddied path so long ago. It seems, Brother, that you are the one
who is still carrying her".
All of these lessons send the same basic message, but each does so in its own way. The reason I have more than one example is because I like to learn through cross-referencing my sources and I enjoy hearing different perspectives. One thing I found in my journey to growth is some lessons are better received by certain teachers, certain stories/koans, and certain scenarios. I hope this helps those who are like me learn this very important lesson in taking that first step towards contentment.
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