:: Article 10

As youngsters, we have the habit of reacting to words. Observe yourself in your relationships. Every word, every gesture provokes us to do something, which we later regret. This habit develops in the early adolescent period of an individual. It is sometimes referred to as a rebel attitude. We never listen to anybody. All the time we are merely responding. This may seem all right when we are young, but later on this habit will create all sorts of problems for us. Many of us would have heard this lovely parable from Buddha’s life. Listen to it again:

Buddha and his close disciple Ananda used to go out for collecting food in the early mornings. Since he was greatly respected, every householder gave him a share of their food with great reverence. One day, as they were knocked at a door, the lady of the house romped outside and started casting aspersions on Buddha. She accused him of a being an idle man, who could not even earn his daily bread and rudely shut the door on his face. Buddha was unshaken. He merely bowed respectfully to the lady and kept walking. But Ananda was visibly upset. No one had addressed his teacher in such raw language. He was more upset by the fact that Buddha did not react at all, but merely smiled as if nothing had happened. Buddha was aware of Ananda’s state of mind, but said nothing. As they reached the end of the village, Buddha gave Ananda his bowl as a present. Ananda accepted it.

In the night, Buddha held his daily meeting with his bhiksus. He pointed to Ananda and asked him:

“O Great Ananda. The bowl that I see in your hand, whose is it?

Ananda replied “O divine one, the bowl is mine”

Buddha then said” That bowl was mine in the morning, how did it become yours by night fall?”

Ananda responded: “O Great one, you had presented the bowl to me and I had accepted it, hence the bowl has become mine”

Buddha smiled serenely and continued: “O great disciple, because you had accepted my gift, it has becomes yours. In the same way, if the words that were spoken by the house lady were accepted by me, then it would have been mine and I would have got hurt. But I refused her words and so it is hers still.”

Ananda’s eyes were full of tears. He prostrated at the Buddha’s feet and spoke no more.
True actions come out our inner core. This core is tapped only when we are silent inside and not constantly swayed by reactions that are generated by accepting every word thrown at us. Learn to be inwardly quiet. This could help us to live a quality life. Even in the midst of intense action, if our mind is quiet and unswayed, our productivity will improve. Experiment with inner quietness.

More later.