A Handful Of Leaves

Thus, this loop of karma and destiny binds us and we remain entangled in it. The only way through which we can nullify our give and take account and destiny is through sustained and regular spiritual practice

- Namali Silva

The Gautama Buddha’s Dhamma is phenomenal. Once, he was giving a sermon to his monks. They were in a forest with many trees. The Buddha bent down and took some leaves from the ground and asked the monks “Monks, which is more; the leaves I am holding, or the leaves on all the trees in this forest?” The monks replied that there were more leaves in the forest, on the trees. Then the Buddha said, “All that I’ve ever taught you is as much as the leaves in my hand. What I haven’t told you is as much as all the leaves in all the trees in this forest. I haven’t disclosed all that I know, because it’s not conducive to your emancipation from Samsara. Follow my Dhamma and strive to realise Nirvana. What I’ve taught you is enough knowledge for your salvation”.

He also gives the simile of the man who is shot by an arrow. The arrow needs to be pulled out immediately. However, the ignorant man says that he first wants to know who shot the arrow, what sort of arrow it is, is it light, is it heavy, what’s it made of, etc. All the while he is bleeding and nearing death. Instead of pulling out the arrow, he is wasting precious time and would die soon when he can easily pull out the arrow and have a longer life.