Japanese parable

In Japan, in one village near the capital, an old wise samurai lived. Once, when he was conducting classes with his students, a young fighter, known for his rudeness and cruelty, approached him. His favorite trick was provocation: he pissed off the enemy and, blinded by rage, he accepted his challenge, made mistake after mistake and lost the battle as a result.

The young fighter began to insult the old man: he threw stones at him, spat and cursed with the last words. But the old man remained calm and continued his studies. At the end of the day, the annoyed and tired young fighter got away.

The students, surprised that the old man had endured so many insults, asked him:

“Why didn't you challenge him to battle?” Are you afraid of defeat?

The old samurai replied:

- If someone comes to you with a gift and you do not accept it, who will own the gift?

“To his former master,” one of the students answered.

- The same goes for envy, hatred and curses. Until you accept them, they belong to the one who brought them.

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