One day Buddha and his disciples passed by a village in which opponents of Buddhists lived. The villagers rushed out of their houses, surrounded the Buddha and the disciples, and began to insult them. The disciples also began to get excited and were ready to fight back, but the presence of the Buddha had a calming effect. But the Buddha's words confused both the villagers and the disciples. He turned to the disciples and said:
“These people are doing their job.” They are angry. It seems to them that I am an enemy of their religion, their moral values. These people insult me, and that's natural. But why are you angry? Why have you allowed yourself to depend on these people now? Aren't you free?
The villagers did not expect such a reaction. They were puzzled and quiet. In the silence that followed, Buddha turned to them:
- Have you said everything? If you haven’t said everything, you will still have the opportunity to tell me everything you think when we return.
People from the village, completely bewildered, asked:
“But we insulted you, why aren’t you angry with us?”
“You are free people, and what you did is your right.” I don't react to this. I am also a free person. Nothing can make me react and no one can influence me - if I don't want it. I am the master of my manifestations. My actions flow from my inner state. Now I would like to ask you a question that concerns you. The villagers next to yours greeted me, they brought flowers, fruits and sweets with them. I told them: “Thank you, but we already had breakfast. Take these fruits with my blessing for yourself. We can’t carry them with us, we don’t carry food with us.” Now I ask you: “What did they do with the gifts that I returned to them?”
One person from the crowd said:
“They probably took them home, and at home they distributed fruits and sweets to their children, their families.”
Buddha smiled:
- What will you do with your insults and curses? I don't accept them. And you take your load home. Do whatever you want with it...
Translated from Russian · original on wisdomlib.ru