Online: Engaged Buddhism Dharma Discussion

First Wednesday of each Month | 7:00 – 8:30 pm EST

Facilitated by Jifu Devyani Sadh

Topic: The Two Arrows

On the first Wednesday of each month, we investigate methods to cut through a wide range of systemic issues arising from our collective greed, aversion, and delusion. Our session commences with 30 minutes of zazen, followed by an Engaged Buddhism Dharma Discussion grounded in shared wisdom.

This week’s discussion will explore the Sallatha Sutta (The Arrow Sutta) from the Pali Canon through the holistic framework of Engaged Buddhism, examining how its wisdom transforms our approach to modern personal, social, and global life. Delivered by Gautama Buddha approximately 2,600 years ago in Shravasti, India, this discourse provides a vital blueprint for active, compassionate living today.

Part 1: Observing the Two Arrows

We will begin by exploring ways to observe our conditioned minds and habitual patterns, examining how an untrained mind naturally duplicates its own pain. Through the lens of Engaged Buddhism, we will look closely at the classic “Two Arrows” simile and the three underlying latent tendencies (anusaya) triggered by discomfort: our immediate aversion to pain, our inclination to chase pleasure as an escape, and our ignorance of neutral states.

Next, we will practice distinguishing between inevitable worldly difficulties and the self-inflicted mental suffering we add to them. We will pay attention to how these dynamics show up in daily life, identifying specific areas—such as health, relationships, technology use, or workplace stress—where simple discomfort gives way to secondary mental friction.

Part 2: Walking the Path of Non-Reaction

The second part shifts toward the sutta’s guidance on insight, looking closely at the qualities developed by an instructed disciple of the path. We will examine how such a person experiences identical physical or situational pain (the first arrow) but learns to restrain the psychological reaction (the second arrow) by cultivating what the text describes as a “disjoined” mind.Rather than withdrawing from the world, this inner spaciousness allows us to engage with it more deeply.

Our closing dialogue will focus on the ongoing work of integration, exploring how to patiently maintain this balanced awareness and view real-world difficulties—whether personal friction, family dynamics, or global challenges—not as obstacles to our peace, but as the primary conditions for our practice.

Sign Up

These free Zoom sessions are open to all who are interested in exploring how to bring mindfulness, presence, and compassionate action into every aspect of daily life. Learn more about Engaged Buddhism at the Zen Studies Society.