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PERHAPS NOTHING IS CERTAIN EXCEPT CHANGE
A man once came and spat on Buddha’s face.
His disciples were enraged.
Red hot with anger, Ananda said, “This is too much!
Permit me to show this man what he’s done!’
But Buddha simply wiped his face and said, “Thank you, sir. You created a context in which I could see whether I can still be angry or not. And I’m not, and I’m tremendously happy. You also created a context for Ananda. Now, he can see that he can still be angry. Many thanks, we are grateful! Whenever you can have the urge to spit on someone, you can come to us.â€
This was such a shock to the man that he couldn’t believe his ears!
He’d expected to anger Buddha, and failed.
He couldn’t sleep the entire night.
Tossed and turned.
The idea haunted him --- his spitting on Buddha remaining as calm as he’d been earlier, as if nothing had happened, wiping his face and thanking him...
He remembered the incident again and again.
That face.
That calm and quiet face, those compassionate eyes.
And when Buddha had said thank you, it had not been just a formality, he’d been really grateful with his entire being.
So cool, so loving, so compassionate.
The man couldn’t forgive himself.
What had he done? Spitting on a man like Buddha!
Early the next morning, he rushed back, fell down at Buddha’s feet and said, “Forgive me, sir. I couldn’t sleep the whole night.â€
Buddha said “Forget it. There is no need to beg forgiveness for something that’s already passed.â€
Buddha was sitting on the bank of the Ganges.
He said to the man, “Look, each moment so much water is flowing down! I am not the same which was yesterday. Twenty-four hours have passed… Why are you still carrying something that no longer exists? Forget it.â€
Then Buddha added “And I cannot forgive you because I wasn’t angry with you in the first place. If I had been angry with you in the first place I would have forgiven. If you really need forgiveness, ask Ananda. Fall at his feet—he will enjoy it!â€
A man once came and spat on Buddha’s face.
His disciples were enraged.
Red hot with anger, Ananda said, “This is too much!
Permit me to show this man what he’s done!’
But Buddha simply wiped his face and said, “Thank you, sir. You created a context in which I could see whether I can still be angry or not. And I’m not, and I’m tremendously happy. You also created a context for Ananda. Now, he can see that he can still be angry. Many thanks, we are grateful! Whenever you can have the urge to spit on someone, you can come to us.â€
This was such a shock to the man that he couldn’t believe his ears!
He’d expected to anger Buddha, and failed.
He couldn’t sleep the entire night.
Tossed and turned.
The idea haunted him --- his spitting on Buddha remaining as calm as he’d been earlier, as if nothing had happened, wiping his face and thanking him...
He remembered the incident again and again.
That face.
That calm and quiet face, those compassionate eyes.
And when Buddha had said thank you, it had not been just a formality, he’d been really grateful with his entire being.
So cool, so loving, so compassionate.
The man couldn’t forgive himself.
What had he done? Spitting on a man like Buddha!
Early the next morning, he rushed back, fell down at Buddha’s feet and said, “Forgive me, sir. I couldn’t sleep the whole night.â€
Buddha said “Forget it. There is no need to beg forgiveness for something that’s already passed.â€
Buddha was sitting on the bank of the Ganges.
He said to the man, “Look, each moment so much water is flowing down! I am not the same which was yesterday. Twenty-four hours have passed… Why are you still carrying something that no longer exists? Forget it.â€
Then Buddha added “And I cannot forgive you because I wasn’t angry with you in the first place. If I had been angry with you in the first place I would have forgiven. If you really need forgiveness, ask Ananda. Fall at his feet—he will enjoy it!â€
Kalama Sutta
The people of Kalama asked the Buddha who to believe out of all the ascetics, sages, venerables, and holy ones who, like himself, passed through their town. They complained that they were confused by the many contradictions they discovered in what they heard. The Kalama Sutta is the Buddha's reply.
– Do not believe anything on mere hearsay.
– Do not believe in traditions merely because they are old and have been handed down for many generations and in many places.
– Do not believe anything on account of rumors or because people talk a a great deal about it.
– Do not believe anything because you are shown the written testimony of some ancient sage.
– Do not believe in what you have fancied, thinking that, because it is extraordinary, it must have been inspired by a god or other wonderful being.
– Do not believe anything merely because presumption is in its favor, or because the custom of many years inclines you to take it as true.
– Do not believe anything merely on the authority of your teachers and priests.
– But, whatever, after thorough investigation and reflection, you find to agree with reason and experience, as conducive to the good and benefit of one and all and of the world at large, accept only that as true, and shape your life in accordance with it.
The same text, said the Buddha, must be applied to his own teachings.
– Do not accept any doctrine from reverence, but first try it as gold is tried by fire.
The people of Kalama asked the Buddha who to believe out of all the ascetics, sages, venerables, and holy ones who, like himself, passed through their town. They complained that they were confused by the many contradictions they discovered in what they heard. The Kalama Sutta is the Buddha's reply.
– Do not believe anything on mere hearsay.
– Do not believe in traditions merely because they are old and have been handed down for many generations and in many places.
– Do not believe anything on account of rumors or because people talk a a great deal about it.
– Do not believe anything because you are shown the written testimony of some ancient sage.
– Do not believe in what you have fancied, thinking that, because it is extraordinary, it must have been inspired by a god or other wonderful being.
– Do not believe anything merely because presumption is in its favor, or because the custom of many years inclines you to take it as true.
– Do not believe anything merely on the authority of your teachers and priests.
– But, whatever, after thorough investigation and reflection, you find to agree with reason and experience, as conducive to the good and benefit of one and all and of the world at large, accept only that as true, and shape your life in accordance with it.
The same text, said the Buddha, must be applied to his own teachings.
– Do not accept any doctrine from reverence, but first try it as gold is tried by fire.
If you do not find an intelligent companion, a wise and well-behaved person going the same way as yourself, then go on your way alone, like a king abandoning a conquered kingdom, or like a great elephant in the deep forest.
Therefore, be ye lamps unto yourselves, be a refuge to yourselves. Hold fast to Truth as a lamp; hold fast to the truth as a refuge. Look not for a refuge in anyone beside yourselves. And those, who shall be a lamp unto themselves, shall betake themselves to no external refuge, but holding fast to the Truth as their lamp, and holding fast to the Truth as their refuge, they shall reach the topmost height.
All that we are is the result of what we have thought. If a man speaks or acts with an evil thought, pain follows him. If a man speaks or acts with a pure thought, happiness follows him, like a shadow that never leaves him.
Believe nothing, no matter where you read it, or who said it, no matter if I have said it, unless it agrees with your own reason and your own common sense.
Hatred does not cease by hatred, but only by love; this is the eternal rule.
Have compassion for all beings, rich and poor alike; each has their suffering. Some suffer too much, others too little.
It is better to conquer yourself than to win a thousand battles. Then the victory is yours. It cannot be taken from you, not by angels or by demons, heaven or hell.
Beings
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