Gautam Buddha and the Brahmin

A story where Buddha calmly teaches a Brahmin that insults and anger only affect you if you choose to accept them.

The Story

Once, when Buddha was meditating under a tree, a Brahmin approached him and began hurling insults. However, Buddha remained calm and unperturbed. This only made the Brahmin more furious, and he continued to abuse Buddha. Yet, Buddha's expression remained unchanged.

The Brahmin, now truly enraged, shouted at Buddha, "I have been abusing you for so long, but aren’t you angry at me?" Buddha replied in a calm voice, "I have not accepted any abuses from you."

"But didn’t you hear them?" asked the Brahmin. Buddha responded, "Your abuses still remain with you, my friend. They did not reach me at all. So why should I get angry?"

Pearls of Wisdom

1. What did Buddha ask the Brahmin?

Buddha asked the Brahmin, "If someone gives you a gift and you don't accept it, who does the gift belong to?"

The Moral of the Story

2. What is the moral of the story?

The moral is that no one can insult you until you accept their insults. The Brahmin hurled abuses at Buddha, but since Buddha did not accept them, he had no reason to get angry. By not accepting the abuse, Buddha remained unaffected.

🌟 **Moral**: No one can insult you unless you choose to accept it. Keep your peace by not accepting insults.

Disclaimer: This story reflects Buddha's teachings on the power of non-acceptance in the face of insults or anger.