The man who spat in Buddha's face: a philosophical parable

Wisdom has many hypostases, set out, in particular, in various religious doctrines. One of the most important issues, from ancient times of people's anxiety, is the problem of curbing one's own anger, sometimes overwhelming the soul of each of us. How to act if someone tries to offend someone? Whether to give him a rebuff or patiently bear this affliction? Christianity teaches us to "turn the cheek." How does Buddhism tell us to behave in moments of anger?

Such a difficult question everyone decides on his own, and again everything depends on the situation. The Buddhist approach is illustrated by the parable below. The patient reader will get acquainted with this story, the original source of which remained unknown.

Conflict

A certain person insulted the Buddha. He did this in the most outrageous manner.

Not everyone could take such humiliation without resentment, the resentment is too great, and many would consider that only cowards behave this way. Do not judge so straightforwardly, maybe there is a rational reason to behave this way.

It was like this: one day the Buddha was sitting with his disciples under a branching tree and preaching his teaching to them, or maybe just talking with them. At that moment the stranger approached and unexpectedly spat the teacher in the face. All present were numb, too sudden and inexplicable was this act. Only Buddha did not lose his composure, he calmly wiped himself and asked the stranger: "What's next? What do you mean?"

The man who committed this outrageous and insulting act, himself at this moment was discouraged. He expected everything, anything - swearing, striking, but certainly not a calm question. He had obviously been hurt by people before, and their reaction was predictable, - cowards and weaklings smiled, trying to appease him, and the strong climbed into a fight. The Buddha did not look frightened, the students around him showed anger just as willingly to stand up for the teacher and waited only for his team to punish the offender. And the Buddha only asked: "What's next?"

Conversation with students

When the stranger left, and did not get what he deserved, the teacher reproachfully addressed the students, telling them that their behavior offended him much more than the actions of this man. "He did not offend me like you, he does not know me, and probably heard something about me from people, possibly deceiving me, calling me a criminal, an atheist, an adventurer who seduces other people from a righteous path, a revolutionary or a bribe taker. He probably had some idea about me, he did not spit on me, but on this image, on his own illusions, because he does not know me at all.

I have nothing to do with his ideas about me, and so I asked what exactly this poor man wants to say - his spittle is also a way to say something. There are times when people feel that their language is powerless: in prayer, deep love or strong anger. There are times when the most vivid speeches are powerless, then there is a need to do something somehow. I can understand him. He obviously wanted to say something, so I asked him: what next?

But on you I feel resentment, - Buddha added to the disciples, - for many years you have not understood the essence of my teaching. "

Meanwhile, the abuser ...

Puzzled and confused, the man went home. He did not sleep all night. Again and again he experienced the event without finding an explanation. He had never met such a man before.

In the morning he returned to the tree and fell to the feet of the Buddha, and he again asked him: "What's next? Your bow is also a way to say something that can not be expressed in words. "

The man looked at the Buddha with eyes full of tears, and said: "Forgive me for what I did yesterday."

Buddha's Answer

"I'm sorry, but I'm not the person you've offended." The Ganges continues to flow, and it's always another Ganges, everyone looks like a river, there's no one else you spit, I'm like him, but I'm different! I can not forgive you because there is no resentment in me, and you are also new, I see that you are not the person who came yesterday because he was angry and spat, and you are bowing to my feet. Come on, let's talk about something else. "