The Second Arrow: Understanding Mental Suffering

There are two types of suffering. The first is physical suffering. For example, when your leg is broken, you feel pain. The second type of suffering is mental suffering caused by the Three Poisons (lust, hatred, and delusion). When you suffer an injury, you may think, “I should have been more careful. It would be uncomfortable and inconvenient to go to the hospital and get treatment and put on a cast. Why are these terrible things happening to me? I’m angry.” and so forth. When lust, hatred, and delusion creep in beyond the recognition and acceptance of the current state of broken leg, suffering increases. That’s why the Buddha called the suffering caused by the Three Poisons the second arrow. Through practice, we learn not to add this second arrow to the pain already present.

In the practice of Nancy’s Noble Eightfold Path, you learn to observe the sensations and feelings in your body that arise with the Three Poisons. This awareness helps you avoid the second arrow of mental suffering. As you continue to observe and understand lust, hatred, and delusion, you will gain experiential insight into the Four Noble Truths and the Noble Eightfold Path. This path provides a practical guide to understanding and alleviating mental suffering.

In conclusion, the suffering caused by the second arrow is a product of our cravings. Because it arises through conditions, training can weaken those conditions and bring it to an end. The Noble Eightfold Path provides a practical and effective method to achieve this, with a focus on the Right View and Right Intention.