A young warrior, never beaten, went to challenge an old Zen master. He did not use the sword: he insulted him for hours, trying to provoke in him anger or fear.
The teacher didn't move. He didn't answer. She remained serene.
The young man, exhausted, left.
The students asked: «How did you not react?»
The teacher answered:
«If someone gives you a gift and you don't accept it, who's the gift?»
«To those who offered it.»
«The offenses are like that. If you don't accept them, they're left of who threw them. You don't have to take them.»
The point to take home: Other anger is a package. You can open it and hurt yourself, or you can leave it where it is. The choice is always you'llto.
