Contemplative Monday

The following is from ' The Pocket Thich Nhat Hanh' (click)

and published by 'Shambhala Pocket Classics'.

THE SECOND ARROW

"We humans have lost the capacity of resting. We worry too much.

We don't allow our bodies to heal.We don't allow our minds to heal.

Even when we are given a few weeks of vacation, we don't know how to rest.

our worries, stress, and fear make the situation worse.

Meditation can help release the tension, help us embrace our worries,

our fear, our anger; and that is very healing.

It is very important to learn again the art of resting and relaxing.

When we're at peace with ourselves, the elements of our body and mind 

will work together harmoniously, and that is the foundation of health.

Different elements of the body will come together and work in harmony.

The chemicals in our body will be released in the exact amount we need.

We won't overproduce chemicals like adrenaline.

The Buddha speaks about the 'second arrow'.

When an arrow strikes you, you feel pain.

If a second arrow comes and strikes you in the same spot,

 the pain will be ten times worse.

The Buddha advised that when you have some pain in your body or your mind,

 breathe in and out and recognize the significance of that pain

but don't exaggerate its importance.

If you stop to worry, to be fearful, to protest, to be angry about the pain,

then you magnify the pain ten times or more.

Your worry is the second arrow.

You should protect yourself and not allow the second arrow to come,

because the second arrow comes from you."