Taking Off the Armor
When we meditate, we are invited to set aside the armor we so often carry — the defenses we build to protect ourselves. Taking off that armor allows us to develop access to our own vulnerability.
But does that mean we go in naked? At times, it may feel like it. In practice, we meet parts of ourselves that are hurt and broken. That meeting can be tender, difficult, and deeply human.
The Buddha’s Long Night
The Buddha often taught in metaphors, and many of his teachings were mythologized. One such myth describes the night he resolved to face the truth of dukkha — suffering, angst, dissatisfaction, and vulnerability.
He meditated through a long night before realizing awakening. Awakening, here, simply means being awake, aware, and wise.
During that night, the Buddha was assailed by visions from his past and desires that tempted him to abandon his practice. In the myth, he sat still, wearing only a simple saffron robe.
Mara, his shadow nemesis, and an army of others attacked him. They shot arrows of poison, aggression, hostility, injustice, ignorance, hatred, greed, selfishness, doubt, and confusion. But as the story goes, the arrows could not harm him. Instead, they transformed into flowers — lotus, carnations, lilies — falling harmlessly at his feet.
Facing Arrows and Flowers
The image is vivid: arrows that could wound or kill becoming blossoms. Transformed by goodwill, quietude, and the security of his practice, the weapons lost their power.
Yet, in our own experience, it may not feel so simple. Likely we would feel the hurt, the sting of attack, the weight of intentions directed against us. The ideal of arrows turning into flowers can feel impossibly high when we are the ones being pierced.
Members of our sangha have reflected on this story too. Perhaps the arrows sometimes go straight through without leaving a mark. Or perhaps they land but do not penetrate deeply, because we don’t add extra hurt onto what already hurts.
Myths and Real Life
Myths condense experience. They compress what, in ordinary life, would take days, weeks, or even years. Healing takes time. Difficult relationships, illness, or painful life periods can feel like battles. And yet, when they end, a new reality opens.
It’s unlikely everything would happen in a single night, or that remaining perfectly still is the most important lesson. In practice, we move when needed. We come back when distracted. The path is not rigid.
The Promise to Keep Going
Placed in the broader context of the Buddha’s life, this story also represents determination. After trying many other spiritual paths, he resolved to find his own. His determination was a promise to himself: to keep going.
There was no magic force field around him. Instead, there was discovery — new perspectives, new insights — and a willingness to integrate them into life. In this way, the Buddha’s long night is also our own: the continual uncovering of wisdom through experience.
A Ritual of Reflection
We invite you to reflect with gentleness:
✨ What are your thoughts and feelings on this story?
✨ Is this something you would like to carry into meditation?
✨ Where do your thoughts and feelings go after reading this?
✨ Ritual of Reflection: How did that land for you?
About the Daily Online
This reflection comes from one of our Daily Online sessions, held every day from 9:00–10:00 AM PT. Each gathering begins with a short dharma talk, followed by meditation, journaling, and a chance for shared conversation with the teachers.
In Reflective Meditation, we encourage approaching practice with gentleness, kindness, and curiosity. Cameras remain off during meditation so each participant can practice in their own way. Afterward, a few people share their reflections with the teacher of the day, while others observe and learn from the exchange.
Learn more or join us at reflectivemeditation.org/dailyonline.
