[blockquote source=”Pema Chodron”]“If someone comes along and shoots an arrow into your heart, it’s fruitless to stand there and yell at the person. It would be much better to turn your attention to the fact that there’s an arrow in your heart…”[/blockquote]

I love the story of the Buddha’s triumph over the demon Mara, an unearthly being desperate to distract Siddhartha from the true path of human deliverance.

With each passing day, Mara watched as Siddhartha sat in meditation beneath the shade of the Bodhi tree. Threatened by his resolve, he commenced commenced a series of vicious attacks.

At first, he scoffed at Siddhartha, questioning the utility of his efforts – and, hoping to introduce the merciless shadows of doubt.

But, Siddhartha simply smiled, unaffected by the implications of such harsh words.

Mara then sent his beautiful daughters in an attempt to seduce Siddhartha. Yet still, he remained unmoved.

In one final attempt, Mara insisted that enlightenment was his by the nature of his own virtue, demanding Siddhartha relinquish the ‘throne’ at once.

But nothing could shake Siddhartha’s gentle smile.

Furious, Mara dispatched his most powerful armies. “We are his witness!” they cried out in his defense.

“Now, then,” Mara challenged, “who will speak for you?”

In response, Siddhartha laid his hands softly to the ground – calling upon the earth to bear witness on his behalf. In acknowledgement, the earth gave a mighty shudder – causing Mara’s elephant to bow before Siddhartha in submission, and all of the armies to flee.

The story is intended to demonstrate the duality of enlightenment. That is to say, in knowing adversity, we may be begin to understand, and subsequently deepen our own awareness.

Mara represents all which may distract us from our journey. Manifesting throughout all aspects of our daily lives, Mara is incessant in his ‘attacks.’

It is only through the stillness of mind, that we may begin to diminish the demon’s influence.

Not even the deadliest of ‘arrows’ could permeate the tranquility of Siddhartha’s meditative mind – which were transformed and fell as flowers upon his enemy’s feet.

Such is the case in our own lives, that we may face adversity through another’s poisoned arrow.

The trick is, learning to transform the arrow’s path mid-flight.