Image of Gotama Buddha

Master Teacher Gotama Buddha

(The Tathāgata) This artistic drawing of Gotama Buddha was composed from the description provided of him in The Pāli Canon, the most complete collection of his Teachings. Wat Na Pah Pong in Krung Thep, Thailand commissioned this artwork of Gotama Buddha based on the descriptions found within the Pāli text. Gotama Buddha was born in current day Nepal. This artwork resembles the appearance of an individual known to originate from that region of the world and was not created to appear from the culture in which the artwork was commissioned. I know this image to be an accurate representation of Gotama Buddha’s appearance during his lifetime.

Simile of a Man Were Wounded by an Arrow Thickly Smeared with Poison Suppose, Mālunkyaputta, a man were wounded by an arrow thickly smeared with poison, and his friends and companions, his kinsmen and relatives, brought a surgeon to treat him. The man would say: ‘I will not let the surgeon pull out this arrow until I know whether the man who wounded me was a noble or a Brāhmin or a merchant or a worker.’ And he would say: ‘I will not let the surgeon 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 was tall or short or of middle height;…until I know whether the man who wounded me was dark or brown or golden-skinned;…until I know whether the bowstring that wounded me was fibre or reed or sinew or hemp or bark;…until I know whether the shaft that wounded me was wild or cultivated;…until I know with what kind of feathers the shaft that wounded me was fitted — whether those of a vulture or a heron or a hawk or a peacock or a stork;…until I know with what kind of sinew the shaft that wounded me was bound — whether that of an ox or a buffalo or a deer or a monkey;…until I know what kind of arrowhead it was that wounded me — whether spiked or razor-tipped or curved or barbed or calf-toothed or lancet-shaped.’ All this would still not be known to that man and meanwhile he would die. So too, Mālunkyaputta, if anyone should say thus: ‘I will not lead the holy life under the [Enlightened] One until the [Enlightened] One declares to me: ‘The world is eternal’ and ‘the world is not eternal’; ‘the world is finite’; and ‘the world is infinite’; ‘the soul is the same as the body’ and ‘the soul is one thing and the body another’; and ‘after death a Tathāgata exists’ and ‘after death a Tathāgata does not exist’ and ‘after death a Tathāgata both exists and does not exist’ and ‘after death a Tathāgata neither exists nor does not exist’, that would still remain undeclared by The Tathāgata and meanwhile that person would die. Therefore, Mālunkyaputta, remember what I have left undeclared as undeclared, and remember what I have declared as declared. And what have I left undeclared? ‘The world is eternal’ and ‘the world is not eternal’; ‘the world is finite’; and ‘the world is infinite’; ‘the soul is the same as the body’ and ‘the soul is one thing and the body another’; and ‘after death a Tathāgata exists’ and ‘after death a Tathāgata does not exist’ and ‘after death a Tathāgata both exists and does not exist’ and ‘after death a Tathāgata neither exists nor does not exist,’ — I have left undeclared. And what have I declared? ‘This is discontentedness’, ‘This is the cause of discontentedness’, ‘This is the elimination of discontentedness’, ‘This is the way leading to the elimination of discontentedness’ — I have declared. Why have I declared that? Because it is beneficial, it belongs to the fundamentals of the holy life, it leads to liberation, to freedom from strong feelings, to elimination, to peace, to direct knowledge (experience), to Enlightenment, to Nibbāna. That is why I have declared it. (Gotama Buddha) (Reference: MN 63)

Simile of a Man Were Wounded by an Arrow Thickly Smeared with Poison (continued) Author’s Thoughts: This simile uses the “poisonous arrow” to represent “The Three Poisons” that we are all affected by “craving (greed/desire), anger (hatred/ill will), and ignorance (delusion/confusion)”. The Teachings of Gotama Buddha are represented by the surgeon. His Teachings are the medicine to remove “The Three Poisons”. But, if we expect to know all the answers that lead to the removal of “The Three Poisons” prior to practicing these Teachings, which would remove these poisons, then surely we will die before the poisons are removed. There is no way for you to know all the answers prior to learning and practicing these Teachings as you need to create a “life practice” to clearly see many of the answers to acquire wisdom. Each day you build more and more wisdom in your life practice to gradually attain Enlightenment. If you expect to know all the answers prior to practicing these Teachings, surely you will die before the poisons are removed and, thus, have continued discontentedness and be reborn to once again experience life in a new realm - most likely not the human realm. Gotama Buddha left certain questions undeclared because they do not lead to liberation of the mind. But The Teachings he did declare do lead to complete liberation of the mind, namely starting with “The Four Noble Truths” as mentioned in this simile.

From the Darkness into The Light

When we are deep into the darkness of the mind, we can’t see a way out. We think everyone else is “the problem”. We do not realize we have a problem. We do not see The Three Poisons are affecting the mind and our intentions, our speech and our actions.

We don’t see the bad things happening to us as a result of our own intentions, speech, and actions. The Natural Law of Kamma is at work constantly showing us that we are still in the darkness but without the wisdom of this natural law we think we can somehow gain control.

We do not know there is a problem and, thus, we do not know there is a way out of the darkness. We think we are SO smart and can see so clearly.

The mind is permeating with poison, The Three Poisons of craving, anger, and ignorance (unknowing of true reality) but we don’t see it. Our excessive cravings and desires keep us clinging, attaching, and clinging some more.

We are bound into The Cycle of Rebirth through The Ten Fetters.

Our existence becomes trying to satisfy this mountain of endless craving and desires. We think we are just living life and everything is normal.

We are angry, we are happy, then we are sad, then bored, lonely, excited, elated, deeply hurt, searching and looking for what’s next in this roller coaster of emotions. We are searching for answers but may not know where to look as “the way of life” that explains everything has been affected by impermanence, thus, everyone calls it a “religion” when the original Teacher described it as “a better way of life”.

The word religion elicits painful feelings for most and, thus, they turn away.

If we are fortunate, we…

Hear that the world is full of discontentedness, everything is impermanent and constantly changing except for Enlightenment and The Natural Laws of Existence. The mind becomes interested and when this Teaching is practiced the mind sees the truth and agrees.

Hearing we cause our own discontentedness due to our attachments and constant craving and desires, the mind looks inward seeing your last incident of anger, you see your cravings/desires/attachments that caused your own discontentedness.

Hearing that we can eliminate our discontentedness by eliminating our mental attachments and by training the mind to not cling, the mind inhales a few breaths but the darkness holds on. The poisons are well rooted.

Hearing that “The Path” to eliminate our discontentedness is to practice The Eight Fold Path, the way leading to the elimination of discontentedness, the mind can see the light to peacefulness, to contentedness, to inner fulfillment.

From the Darkness into The Light (continued)

But, we must have access to The Teachings and to Teachers. We must study, we must reflect, we must practice so that we can attain the “results”.

A mind free of craving, anger, and ignorance (unknowing of true reality) with the elimination of ego and realizing non-self. A steady, peaceful, calm mind in the sea of darkness that is available for all human beings.

The Enlightened mind, a mental state achievable by all that would create the most peaceful earth ever known to humankind.

1.) Universal love for all beings

2.) Do no harm

3.) Be a good moral person

It has taken us 2,500 years to realize we’ve had the answers all along but impermanence has affected them, just like everything else.

Now, we refocus. We caught The Teachings from the sky, we dust them off, we present them to the world.

We start at home with ourself and work our way out. It’s going to take a long time.

A peaceful world free of The Three Poisons is possible. But first, you must realize you have been shot with an arrow full of poison.

Are you ready to take it out?

Start learning and practicing The Teachings of Gotama Buddha today!

(Written by the author of this book.)

Continue to read and understand “The Words of The Buddha - The Path to Enlightenment - Revealing The Hidden” book series that has been laid out for all of us to achieve a better way of life. You can connect to a group of people in a supportive environment for discussion, sharing, and learning through the Facebook group.

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Learning Resources for Further Exploration

Audiobook

(Audiobook) - (Volume 1 - Chapter 24) - Misunderstandings of Gotama Buddha's

Teachings (Read & Listen)

https://youtu.be/CjnGRfVw5ec