Struck by the First Arrow, Do Not Take the Second

answered by Samyutta Nikaya, The Arrow (Sallatha Sutta)

기원전 3세기경 결집(초기 불교 경전)

🎬 TODAY'S FILM — IT ASKS THIS

Waterloo Bridge (1940)

dir. Mervyn LeRoy · USA

A person imprisons herself in memories of loss and shame. Even before a love returned, the self-reproach that she does not deserve it pushes happiness away. How does one stop shooting the arrow of the past into oneself again?

THE QUESTION THE FILM ASKS

When self-punishment for a past wound pushes away even a love regained, what is one to do?

📜 THE CLASSIC'S ANSWER

💡 TL;DR

The Buddha taught with the parable of the arrow: the first arrow is the pain life deals, but the second is the self-reproach with which we shoot that pain into ourselves again.

📝The Classic Answers

The Buddha taught with the parable of the arrow: the first arrow is the pain life deals, but the second is the self-reproach with which we shoot that pain into ourselves again. Though a past wound was not ours alone to blame, we so often punish ourselves and loose the second arrow. Even if I cannot undo the first arrow already struck, I choose to set down the second. Without forgiving oneself, even a love regained slips through the fingers.

— ONGO · Curator

🌱Apply It Today

If you punish yourself over the past, tell yourself once today: "It already hurts; I need not strike myself on top of it."

📖 Classic Source: Samyutta Nikaya, The Arrow (Sallatha Sutta).
The film is honored as an equal questioner; its plot is rendered only as a universal dilemma. The classic source is an ancient text (Public Domain), and the reflection is 100% original ONGO content.