(Non)violence - Buddha

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Once Buddha, and his disciple went for seeking alms. In one house,

the lady came out and instead of giving alms chided him saying , "

The two of you look so hefty. Why can't u go and earn ur own bread

instead of seeking alms. Have u no shame and self-respect to go

begging like this?"

 

When Buddha heard these words, he did NOT get angry or offended, but

quietly left the house. However, his disciple was deeply hurt on

hearing these words and said to Buddha, " Please give me permission

to take leave and teach that lady a good lesson. " On the contrary,

Budhdha asked him disciple to just follow him.

 

In the afternoon, before taking a short nap, Buddha gave his

kamandalu ( a kind of a pot) to his disciple. After his nap, Buddha

and his diciple went about their usual chores, and in the evening

Buddha asked his disciple, "Who's Kamandalu is this ?"

The disciple answered, "Lord, it is yours,"

Buddha : "But you are the one having it."

Disciple : "I may be the one having it, but you are the one who owns

it. Hence it's yous."

Buddha : "Ok. now i'm giving it to you. So from now on it's yours."

 

They then got busy with their evening prayers and other chores. After

the busy evening, they were resting before going to sleep. Then

Buddha asked the disciple : "Who's kamandalu is this ?"

Disciple : "Lord, its mine. "

Buddha laughed and said, " In the evening u said it's mine, and in

the night you say it's yours. Which one is correct ? "

Disciple : "Lord, in the evening you gave me the kamandalu. Hence

from then on it's mine, isn't it ?"

 

Buddha : "The kamandalu remains the same. And it has been with you

all along. Yet, in the evening you said it's mine, and in the night

you say it's yours. That is b'cos in the evening, though it was with

you, you hadn't accepted it as yours. Hence you said it was not

yours. But after I gave it to you, you had accepted it as yours.

Hence you say it's yours though the person in possesson hasn't

changed. So you see, though the thing in possession, and the the

person possessing it haven't changed, the sense of ownership has

changed. And this is only due to your mental acceptance.

Similarly, though that lady chided me, I didn't accept it. Hence the

insult is not mine."