A poison arrow shot at the
heart
Does it really matter, who
aimed and who shot?
Must you first, find his name?
Must you find his uncanny fame?
Must we first, ask why?
And does it really matter how and why?
Can questions of identity be given
to wait!
For saving life is more a
pertinent trait!
So don’t you drown, in the
sea of why
Learn to let go, and learn to
fly
Free yourself of greed, hate
and delusion
For this is life’s only eternal
solution!
The Buddha always told his disciples not to waste their time and energy in metaphysical speculation. Whenever he was asked a metaphysical question, he remained silent. Instead, he directed his disciples toward practical efforts. Questioned one day about the problem of the infinity of the world, the Buddha said, "Whether the world is finite or infinite, limited or unlimited, the problem of your liberation remains the same." Another time he said, "Suppose a man is struck by a poisoned arrow and the doctor wishes to take out the arrow immediately. Suppose the man does not want the arrow removed until he knows who shot it, his age, his parents, and why he shot it. What would happen? If he were to wait until all these questions have been answered, the man might die first." Life is so short. It must not be spent in endless metaphysical speculation that does not bring us any closer to the truth.
ReplyDelete— Hanh, Thich; Philip Kapleau (2005). Zen Keys. Three Leaves Press. p. 42