This is my
favorite story about the Buddha.
A man heard about
the Buddha and his teachings and decided if this "Buddha" ever came
around he'd show him up for the fraud he was. One day he received his
opportunity when Buddha came walking into the village. The man
immediately went to the Buddha and started cursing at him, calling
him a fraud, asking who he thought he was to be teaching people such
things.
Buddha ignored
him.
For several days the
man followed Buddha around doing his best to get a response, but
failing miserably each time.
Finally, before
leaving the village, Buddha turned to the man and quietly said, "May
I ask you a question."
The man was startled.
He nodded his head.
Buddha smiled. "If
somebody gives you a gift and you don't accept it, to whom does the
gift belong?"
The man considered,
then responded, "It belongs to the person who gave it."
Buddha smiled. "And
so," he said, "do I not accept your gift."
Devastated, the man
lowered his head in shame and walked away.