The Gift

This is a story I heard some years ago.  I can’t verify if it’s accurately attributed to Buddha because I haven’t read all of his teachings.  However, I think the lesson is a powerful one no matter who gets the credit for it!

Upon hearing of Buddha’s incredible level of patience, understanding, forgiveness and wisdom, a very skeptical man decided to visit Buddha.  He did not believe that anyone could actually be like the descriptions he had heard of this holy man.  “I will challenge him and see his reaction for myself,” he said to himself.

When the man came to visit Buddha, he chose to see how Buddha reacted to being insulted.  “Surely, he will behave like any man and become angry with me,” he thought.  The man began a verbal insult that lasted for quite a long time.  There was no reaction.  Buddha remained quiet. Finally, the man ran out of things to say and lost the energy to keep going.  When he was clearly finished, Buddha calmly asked the man this question, “If a gift is offered but is refused, to whom does the gift belong?” The man responded, “Well, I guess it would still belong to the person who offered it.” Buddha then said,” So if I refuse to accept your abuse, is it still not yours?”

The morale of the story:  When someone is giving you a whole lot of heck – make it their problem, not yours.