Imagine you stub your toe on the corner of a table. Pain shoots through your foot—this is the first arrow. But then, frustration follows: Why am I so clumsy? This always happens to me! That table shouldn’t be there! This is the second arrow—the one we shoot at ourselves. And often, it hurts more than the first.
The Buddha’s metaphor of the “first arrow and second arrow” is simple yet profoundly resonant.
The first arrow (the unavoidable reality) is something that comes to everyone. However, the second arrow (our mental reaction to it) is something we create ourselves. In fact, much of our suffering arises from this second arrow. Once we realize this, we naturally begin to release these arrows, little by little.
In the Inner Sanctuary Japanese group, many have shared insights such as, “I was constantly shooting second arrows,” or “I was a warrior of the second arrow.” Reacting unconsciously is something everyone experiences. But through the practice of letting it be, they have started to notice that the second arrow is “firing less often.” This is a significant shift. We have already taken a step toward freedom when we notice it.
The Root Causes of Suffering
In Buddhism, suffering arises from three fundamental causes:
Aversion (the desire to avoid or reject something)
Attachment (the belief that something is indispensable)
Ignorance (the inability to see things as they truly are)
The third one is particularly tricky. We assume our thoughts are our own, mistake illusions for reality, and get caught up in them. But thoughts simply arise and disappear—they are not our essence.
Recognizing Thoughts Without Engagement
The key is to recognize thoughts and let them be. When you notice them, simply say, “Oh well,” and let them pass.
The stronger our belief in how things should be, the more we bind ourselves. And that is the exact opposite of “letting it be.” Sitting in meditation allows us to notice how we have imposed these rigid beliefs upon ourselves, and gradually, they begin to loosen—like gently untangling a knot that has been tied for years.
The Illusion of “Letting Go”
Many people talk about “letting go of judgments,” “letting go of assumptions,” or “letting go of unnecessary values.” But have you ever noticed that trying to let go intentionally doesn’t really work?
You don’t have to force yourself to let go. In fact, letting go isn’t something you do—it’s something that happens when you stop holding on. Instead of trying to release a thought or emotion, simply notice that you’re gripping it. Over time, when left alone, it will loosen and drift away on its own.
When we try to “let go,” we may unknowingly create new attachments or aversions. But if we leave things as they are, one day we realize they’re no longer in our grasp—just like opening our hand and feeling the wind gently carry something away.
There’s no need to rush, control, or manipulate anything. Just let it be. And at some point, you will notice a sense of lightness.
The Freedom of Letting It Be
To reject your current state is, in itself, a second arrow. The truth is, you are fine just as you are—because this moment is all there is.
No matter what state you are in, that is your present reality. There is no need to resist it. Simply recognize it and let it be. That alone allows the hand that holds the second arrow to loosen naturally.
The attachment to “letting go,” the aversion to “letting go”—we don’t need to carry either. Instead of grasping at ourselves, we can simply rest in letting it be.
The next time you feel a second arrow approaching, pause. What would happen if you simply let it be? See what unfolds.
“Letting it be” truly runs deep.
Words and Photo by K E I K O
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