Weekend Story- The Returned Gift

A man once came to a teacher who was sitting quietly in meditation.

The man was angry. He stood before the teacher and began shouting.

He accused him. Insulted him. Mocked him.

The teacher did not answer.

He simply sat there, calm and still.

The angrier the man became, the quieter the teacher seemed.

After some time, the man ran out of words. His face was red. His breath was heavy. He looked almost defeated by his own anger.

Finally, he said, “Are you not going to answer me? I have been insulting you all this while.”

The teacher opened his eyes and looked at him gently.

“Tell me,” he said. “If someone brings you a gift and you refuse to accept it, to whom does the gift belong?”

The man was confused.

“To the one who brought it,” he said.

The teacher nodded.

“You brought me anger this morning. You brought me insults. But I did not accept them.”

The man stood silent.

The teacher closed his eyes again.

“So they remain with you.”