The random thoughts of a genius...er...gene nash.
and handling it gracefully
Published on May 15, 2004 By Gene Nash In Personal Relationships

        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.


Comments
on May 21, 2004
fussyvet, you can be a Christian Buddhist.  The beauty of Buddhism is that it is more philosophy of how to live than an actual religion.
on May 21, 2004
Smartaz thast a good lesson and I enjoyed it as for me... I just enjoy cursing not at someone but just because I can, because it is my right to practive the valgarity of this language
Thomas
on May 21, 2004
THAT IS SOOOOOO AWESOME!!!!!

Trinitie
on May 21, 2004
I really enjoyed this Smartaz

I hope you post more.

Jess
on May 21, 2004
Yap, I hope you post more, too.

Christian Buddhist. What a good idea! I've never thought I can be a Christian Buddhist. Uumm, I'll study Buddhism, too. Thank you for the hint.
on May 21, 2004

Fussy, if you need advice, please contact me : dhramagirl69@yahoo.com .


I'm Buddhist.  Been Buddhist for years now.

on May 31, 2004
That was enlightening for the bude dudes. Thankfully I'm a rude dude. Cussing is definitely the way to go.

on May 31, 2004
I am also a Christian Buddhist. I found this story to be very amusing as well as interesting. A good one to spend time reflecting on.
on May 31, 2004
"Fussy, if you need advice, please contact me : dhramagirl69@yahoo.com ."

Did you mean dharmagirl69? btw, Dharma, there's no rush for a reply with my email... I just want to make sure you got it, because my email was being really screwy. so just let me know. Thanks

~Sarah
on May 31, 2004

Yeah, sorry, Sarah.  Fussy got it right tho, she emailed me last week.


I'll be sending you one off this afternoon.

on Jun 06, 2004
Reply By: fussyvet Posted: Thursday, May 20, 2004
Hi!
How did you know this story? Are you a Buddhist (I'm sorry I might know if I read all your articles, but I don't have time enough to supplement my luck of English ability)?
I'm a Christian, very rare case in Japan (Japan has only about one percent Christian). But this story is very nice and interesting for me. Now I'm thinking to learn about Buddha as well as Christ. Thank you for giving me a start.

No, I'm not Buddhist. I'm Christian -- a fairly fundamentalist variety too, since I'm one of those dolts who believes the entire thing actually happened and not just as parables. I take wisdom wherever I find it. I heard that version of the story by way of Dr. Wayne Dyer.

Jake, Cann1bal: It is certainly your right to express yourself anyway you feel. I can't help but wonder, though, if it doesn't hinder you in some ways? Accomplishing anything significant requires the assistance and involvement of other people. Ultimately those who can help the most are likely to be those who would frown on such expression. Don't you think, perhaps, it lowers people's estimation of you and harms you in the longrun?

(By the way Jake -- "bude dudes/rude dude" -- nice play on words. )

To everyone else, I would like to thank you for your kind words. I am concerned that I may have been "evangelizing" the wrong religion, though. I actually considered taking it down for that reason.
on Jun 06, 2004
By the way, Fussy, you can go read my Christian themed articles at www.infinitejesus.com
on Jun 07, 2004
Hi!
I read your Christian themed articles. Now I'm making a website of our church. I'll refer to yours. Thanks.


on Jun 07, 2004
Hi!
I read your Christian themed articles. Now I'm making a website of our church. I'll refer to yours. Thanks.


Thank you, Fussy. That is very kind of you. If you need any help with the church website, just ask.