I have been thinking on how sometimes we get lost in words and concepts and miss out on practical experiences.The thirst quenching capacity of water can only be felt after drinking it and not learning the many words by which water is known in various languages and the difference between river water and sea water.Though those questions will have intellectual relevance in enhancing our knowledge they dont quench our thirst. This self realization journey can be like that. we read about a great saintly person .we like what he says. That leads us to a video of another sage sounding person who tempts us with his wares of words.and on and on we go. We think we are making progress but in reality we are mistaking activity for progress. Just staying busy is not fruitful work.In fact thats how our modern mechanical world has designed our lives-modern and very mechanical. Everyone is busy and no one is getting anywhere.So we need to take a step back from this words and verbalizations and experience things. I came across a parable of Buddha where he talks about a man who is hit by an arrow who then has two options a) take the arrow out b) wait till he finds out everything about the arrow before deciding to let it be removed. Which option does he take? isnt it obvious? So want to improve ? Do the work.Dont just read and read and watch videos on how life can be better. Go out and do it!
The parable is presented here in more details
“Suppose, Malunkya,putta, a man were wounded by an arrow, thickly smeared with poison, and his friends and companions, his kinsmen and blood relatives, bring a physician who is an arrow-remover to treat him.
If he were to say, ‘I will not let the arrow-removing physician pull out this arrow until I know if the man who wounded me is a noble, or a priest, or a merchant, or a worker.’
Or if he were to say, ‘I will not let the arrow-removing physician pull out this arrow until I know the name and clan of the man who wounded me.
…until I know whether the man who wounded me is tall or short or of medium height.…until I know whether the man who wounded me is dark or brown or golden-skinned.…until I know whether the man who wounded me lives in such and such a village or town or city.…until I know whether the bow with which I am wounded is a longbow or a Munda bow.…until I know whether the bowstring with which I am wounded is fiber or reed or sinew or hemp or bark.…until I know whether the shaft with which I am wounded is wild or cultivated.…until I know whether the feathers fitted to the shaft with which I am wounded is from a vulture or a heron or a hawk or a peacock or a stork.…until I know whether the sinew which binds the shaft with which I am wounded is that of an ox or a buffalo or a deer or a monkey.…until I know whether the dart that wounded me is hoof-tipped or curved or barbed or calf-footed or oleander.’
All this would still not be known to the man and meanwhile he would die.”
