Hoa Vo Uu (Buddha Dharma Education Association)
Venerable Shravasti Dhammika
The Buddha’s Words of Wisdom
Asurinda of the Bhãradvãja Brãhmin clan heard that the leader of the clan had gone forth into the Sangha of the recluse Gotama. Angry and displeased, he went to where the Lord was and reviled and abused him with rude, hash words. When he had spoken, the Lord remained silent, and Asurinda said: “You are defeated, recluse, you are defeated!” The Lord replied:
The fool thinks he has won a battle
When he bullies with hash speech,
But knowing how to be forbearing –
That makes one victorious.The worse of the two
Is he who, when abused, retaliates
One who does not retaliate
Wins a battle hard to win.Knowing that the other person is angry,
One who remains mindful and calm
Acts for his best interest
And for the other’s interest, too.He is healer of both himself
And the other person also.
He is thought a fool only by those
Who do not understand the Dhamma.
