Once a Teacher and a Student were walking along a country road. They see a man coming towards them, swearing, all excited, almost crying.
- What happened, my friend? - asks the Teacher.
- Yes, some scoundrel just insulted me with the last words and, moreover, in vain! What did I do to him?
“He could not insult you,” answered the Teacher.
- How could he not, if he insulted! — The passerby was surprised. “You don’t even know him, and you’re seeing me for the first time.” How can you say that?
The teacher walked away a few steps, looking for something on the ground, then bent down, picked up something and approached the man, holding out what he found in his clenched fist:
- Take it, it will definitely help you.
He mechanically took what was offered, but when he saw that it was a beetle, he got scared and threw the insect away:
- What does this mean? - the passerby was indignant.
- Sorry, friend, I didn't mean to scare you. But my Student definitely has what you need.
And, turning to the Student, he said:
“Give this worthy gentleman what we found when we were resting in the garden.”
- What is this? - the passerby became wary. - If there’s any more nasty stuff, I won’t take it!
The student untied his knapsack and took out an apple. The passerby looked puzzled at the beautiful and juicy fruit and, making sure that there was no trick, thanked him, but did not take it.
- Why don’t you take it? - asked the Teacher. - And he took the beetle!
“I took the beetle involuntarily.” I didn’t know what you were giving me! I just don't need an apple.
“That’s how it is in life: we often accept what we don’t need and even what’s disgusting just like that, without thinking about it. They give to us - we take. But there is a significant difference between “giving” and “giving.” I can give you something, but until you accept it, my action will remain incomplete: I give - you do not take. But if I give to you, and you accept it, my action becomes perfect: I gave, you took. I cannot give you something until you accept this “something”! I can give, but “giving” is an action that depends on both of us—equally. If someone insults you, you have a choice: accept his insults (most often we do this without thinking) and be offended, or simply not accept them, realizing that you do not need it. That's why I said that that person could not insult you - he insulted you, but you “helped” him insult himself by accepting offensive words!
Translated from Russian · original on wisdomlib.ru