Hoa Vo Uu (Buddha Dharma Education Association)
Venerable Shravasti Dhammika
The Buddha’s Words of Wisdom
Akkosaka of the Bhãradvãja Brãhmin clan heard that leader of the clan had gone forth into the Sanga of the recluse Gotama. Angry and displeased, he went to where the Lord was and reviled and abused the Lord with rude, harsh words. When he had finished, the Lord said: “What do you think, Brãhmin? Do you receive visists from friends and acquaintances, kith and kin and other guests?”
“Yes, Gotama, sometimes I do.”
“And what do you think? Do you prepare for them hard and soft food and give them rest?”
“Yes, Gotama, sometimes I do.”
“And if they do not accept these things from you, whose do these things become?”
“They become mine.”
“It is the same here, Brãhmin. That with which you revile, scold and abuse me, who does not revile, scold or abuse, that I do not accept from you. It is yours, Brãmin. It belongs to you. One who reviles when reviled, who scolds when scolded, who abuses when abused—It is as if a host and a visitor dined together and made good. We, Brãhmin, have not dined together nor have we made good. It is yours, Brãhmin. It belongs to you.”
