The River of The Arrow Symbol Analysis

The River of the Arrow symbolizes the lama’s search for spiritual enlightenment. According to legend, the River is the site where the Buddha’s arrow landed, transforming into a spring with the power to wash away the sins of its bathers. Thus, the River is both a physical and spiritual destination, a duality which the lama embraces. While he seems genuinely convinced of its physical existence, checking every water source he stumbles upon, he also approaches his “Search” with a certain ambivalence. Trusting that he will find the River when the time is right, guided by Kim, the lama’s relationship with the River  differs from that of a typical treasure hunter: he takes long breaks, and when he does finally find the River, he finds it in the backyard of the widow’s estate. The arbitrariness of this location is telling, as is his mode of discovery, falling into the River while already being in a state of spiritual transcendence. This suggests not only that the River’s physical existence might not have been that important after all,  and hints that the lama’s enlightenment was less a product of bathing in the River than the transformative journey trying to find it. While the lama maintains his belief in the river’s existence, its material significance thus seems to be primarily psychological, functioning as a waypoint and catalyst for the lama’s journeys across India. As such, the River of the Arrow symbolizes not only the lama’s search for enlightenment, but also the motivational power of symbols, embodying the old proverb: “it’s not the destination that counts, it’s the journey.”