INTRODUCTION
Deep inner peace is not contingent on other's response or reactions. Both Jesus and the Buddha offered teachings supporting this idea. Jesus stated that peace offered to others returns to the giver if it is not accepted (Luke 10:5-6). Similarly, the Buddha, narrated in the story below, taught that verbal anger directed at a person harms only if the recipient chooses to accept it; otherwise, much like Jesus's assumption about peace, the anger remains with or returns to the person who offered it. This suggests that true spiritual groundedness comes from being so deeply rooted in self-awareness or mindful presence that one neither absorbs external anger nor loses their internal peace.
Deep inner peace is not contingent on other's response or reactions. Both Jesus and the Buddha offered teachings supporting this idea. Jesus stated that peace offered to others returns to the giver if it is not accepted (Luke 10:5-6). Similarly, the Buddha, narrated in the story below, taught that verbal anger directed at a person harms only if the recipient chooses to accept it; otherwise, much like Jesus's assumption about peace, the anger remains with or returns to the person who offered it. This suggests that true spiritual groundedness comes from being so deeply rooted in self-awareness or mindful presence that one neither absorbs external anger nor loses their internal peace.
THE ANGRY MAN & THE MONK
(A modern adaptation of a story from Akkosa Sutta & Sutra of Forty-Two Chapters)
One morning, in a village a wise monk accompanied by his disciples taught words of wisdom to some people who gathered around him. Then suddenly a furious man rushed toward the monk. The man’s face was burning with anger. His words were harsh, full of bitterness and accusations.
The wise monk stayed silent, remained calm and unshaken. To the monk, the insults were nothing more than a wind blowing across the surface of a still lake.
Because the monk was unmoved, the man grew even angrier. After he stepped closer and continued his attack with words, some of the disciples asked permission from the monk to send the man away. But the wise teacher stayed peaceful and quiet until the man shouting - now emotionally exhausted - had no strength left.
When silence finally fell, the monk turned to the young person and gently asked him: “Tell me, my friend — if someone offers you a gift and you refuse to accept it, who does the gift belong to?”
Confused, the man replied, “It belongs to the one who offered it to me.”
The wise monk smiled. “Ah, exactly. The same is true with you offering me anger, insults, and hatred. Your anger is like holding a hot burning coal and offering it to me. But if I do not accept your anger, it stays with you, not with me. You carry its weight and burning heat, not I.”
Recognizing the profound wisdom, the young man bowed before the monk to express gratitude for the teaching.
Confused, the man replied, “It belongs to the one who offered it to me.”
The wise monk smiled. “Ah, exactly. The same is true with you offering me anger, insults, and hatred. Your anger is like holding a hot burning coal and offering it to me. But if I do not accept your anger, it stays with you, not with me. You carry its weight and burning heat, not I.”
Recognizing the profound wisdom, the young man bowed before the monk to express gratitude for the teaching.
REFLECTION QUESTIONS
- What did you find to be the most important part of the story? What resonated with you?
- What experiences have you had that is close to this story?
- Where do you find yourself in this story? Which part of the story is about you?
- What moments in your life mirror the theme of holding a hot burning coal (anger)?
- When someone offered you a hot burning coal, were there moments when you received it? Were there moments when you were you able to refuse it?
SONGS:
Breathe In Breath Out (Lyrics/Chords)
Spirit Still My Body (Lyrics/Chords)
Bottled Up Feelings (Lyrics/Chords)
Breathe Easy Let It All Go (Lyrics/Chords)
Breathe In Breath Out (Lyrics/Chords)
Spirit Still My Body (Lyrics/Chords)
Bottled Up Feelings (Lyrics/Chords)
Breathe Easy Let It All Go (Lyrics/Chords)
