Buddhism offers the idea of “two arrows.”, which has relevance to Alexander Technique.
The first arrow strikes when pain comes upon us; an inevitable occurrence. The second arrow is the mental anguish we experience, or put ourselves through, because of the original pain. Mental pain enhances and prolongs physical pain. It’s as if when shot by an arrow, we respond by shooting ourselves with a second arrow. The second arrow is both habitual, and optional. Similarly, when we feel pleasure, we tend to grip or grasp at it, attempting to make it permanent. It isn’t.
Here are Buddhas’ words from “The Arrow” translated by Thanissaro Bhikkhu © 1997
“When touched with a feeling of pain, the uninstructed run-of-the-mill person sorrows, grieves, & laments, beats his breast, becomes distraught. So he feels two pains, physical & mental. Just as if they were to shoot a man with an arrow and, right afterward, were to shoot him with another one, so that he would feel the pains of two arrows…
Sensing a feeling of pleasure, he senses it as though joined with it. Sensing a feeling of pain, he senses it as though joined with it. Sensing a feeling of neither-pleasure-nor-pain, he senses it as though joined with it.
Now, the well-instructed disciple of the noble ones, when touched with a feeling of pain, does not sorrow, grieve, or lament, does not beat his breast or become distraught. So he feels one pain: physical, but not mental. Just as if they were to shoot a man with an arrow and, right afterward, did not shoot him with another one, so that he would feel the pain of only one arrow.”
Alexander Technique lessons help you avoid shooting that second arrow by using the pillars of the Alexander Technique— AID. Awareness, Inhibition, and Direction.
We can develop the skills to:
1. Become more conscious, aware, and present.
2. Learn to stop.
3. Re-direct ourselves with specific verbal cues.
The Alexander Technique, along with other mindfulness practices, gives us more equanimity, as well as more freedom from the unwanted habit of the second arrow.
Mark Josefsberg-Alexander Technique NYC
(917) 709-4648
Image courtesy of freedigitalphotos.net. “Target” by bplanet
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