The parable of the poisoned arrow: A buddha teaching

There was once a man who was hurt by a poisoned arrow.

The family and friends wanted to get him a doctor but the patient refused, saying that he first wanted to know the name of the man who had wounded him, the caste to which he belonged and his country of origin.

He also wanted to know if the man was tall and strong if he had a light or dark skin and he wished to know what kind of bow wounded him, whether the rope was made of bamboo, hemp or silk.

He said he wanted to know if the feather of the arrow belonged to a hawk, vulture or peacock…

And he wondered if the bow that had been used to strike him was a common bow, curved or made with oleander and any other kind of information, the man died without knowing the answers.