The Parable of the Arrow
One of the most central statements of what the Buddha’s teaching are all about is contained in the Dhammapada . It is called The Parable of the Arrow. "Consider, Malunkyaputta, this story of a man wounded by a poisoned arrow. His friends, relatives, and well-wishers gather around him and a surgeon is called. But the wounded man says, ‘Before he takes out this arrow, I want to know if the man who shot me was a Kshatriya, a Brahmin, a merchant, or an untouchable.’ "Or he says, ‘I won’t let this arrow be removed until I know the name and tribe of the man who shot me.’ "Or: ‘Was he tall, short, or of medium height?’ "Or: ‘Was he black, brown, or yellow-skinned?’ ...
