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| Image from Paulo Coelho's blog |
There are no coincidences.
Haters, they are all around us. These people just breath and live in this state. Their mouths work faster than their brains not even realizing if they're making sense at all.
Recently, a few of them made their presence felt. It's quite surprising, actually, because I rarely spend my time in the city. And if I'm in town, I work. Socials are limited to close friends met over a meal or a cocktail. Where their hatred is coming from, I don't know and don't care to find out.
Holding back, taking a deep breath and thinking of a witty retort as a counterstrike, this blog by Paulo Coelho pops on my Facebook screen......
The gift of insults.
Near Tokyo lived a great Samurai, now old, who decided to teach Zen Buddhism to young people.
One afternoon, a warrior – known for his complete lack of scruples – arrived there. The young and impatient warrior had never lost a fight. Hearing of the Samurai’s reputation, he had come to defeat him, and increase his fame.
All the students were against the idea, but the old man accepted the challenge.
All gathered on the town square, and the young man started insulting the old master. He threw a few rocks in his direction, spat in his face, shouted every insult under the sun – he even insulted his ancestors.
For hours, he did everything to provoke him, but the old man remained impassive. At the end of the afternoon, by now feeling exhausted and humiliated, the impetuous warrior left.
Disappointed by the fact that the master had received so many insults and provocations, the students asked:
– How could you bear such indignity? Why didn’t you use your sword, even knowing you might lose the fight, instead of displaying your cowardice in front of us all?
– If someone comes to you with a gift, and you do not accept it, who does the gift belong to? – asked the Samurai.
– He who tried to deliver it – replied one of his disciples.
– The same goes for envy, anger and insults – said the master.
“When they are not accepted, they continue to belong to the one who carried them.”
Nice, right?
After reading this, I realized that striking back will require effort. I am not about to waste time and energy on negative vibes, so I leave the haters to their ranting and let them keep their gifts of insults.
Don't get mad at your haters, or get even.
Don't even pity them.
Don't make them matter.
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