YOUR CHOICE

Once upon a time Buddha was passing through a village and was trying to imbibe good thoughts and habits to its occupants, The villagers would often sit around him and listen to his teachings with great interest. One day a stranger who was not really interested in the teachings of the Buddha kept abusing him for no reason. The Villagers were very angry with the stranger and wanted to Shoo him away. But Buddha restrained them and listened patiently to the stranger’s abuses. He then turned to the villagers and said, "If someone decides to give you some fruits and you do not accept them, tell me to whom does the fruit belong to now? To the person who offered it or the person who refused to accept it?". "It belongs to the person who offered it", said the villagers. Buddha waited for the stranger’s response.

"It’s obvious. What they say is the truth, any idiot can see it", he said sarcastically. Buddha smiled and said, "What is applicable to the fruits is also applicable for all other things as well. When someone decides to throw abuses at you or speak ill of you, it is up to you to accept it or ignore it; whether to accept it and make it yours or decline it and give it back to that person. The choice you make is that which helps in deciding on what you want from life-the good things or the bad vibes."