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Lessons

The Spirit of Forbearance

With a strong awareness of his life as a Buddha, Shakyamuni was never swayed by others who tried to disparage him. Likewise, he always treated everyone with respect, as he sought out the Buddha nature in all people.
With a strong awareness of his life as a Buddha, Shakyamuni was never swayed by others who tried to disparage him. Likewise, he always treated everyone with respect, as he sought out the Buddha nature in all people. Illustration by Leo Matsuda

Once there was a Brahman who was upset that his wife had become Shakyamuni’s follower. Since his wife praised the Buddha so highly, he went to try to defeat him in debate. But instead of refuting Shakyamuni, the Brahman was so impressed by his preaching that he converted to Buddhism himself. His fellow Brahmans thought this scandalous. They stormed into the Jetavana Monastery and there heaped curses and abuse on Shakyamuni. What do you suppose Shakyamuni did in response?

Shakyamuni asked one of the Brahmans, “If a relative or friend came to your house, would you welcome him as a guest?”

“That’s right,” the Brahman replied. “I sometimes entertain guests.”

“If the person does not accept the food that is provided for him, then to whom does it belong?” Shakyamuni continued.

“It naturally belongs to me, the head of the household.”

“In the same way,” Shakyamuni said, “if I do not accept the abuses that you hurl at me, then will not these return to you and become your own?” (Ikeda Sensei, The Wisdom of the Lotus Sutra, vol. 2, pp. 201–02)

Planting Seeds of Hope

Reaffirming the Fundamental Bodhisattva Way