Dealing With The Bitterness Of Others - A Parable
Here's a parable about bitterness, boundaries, peace, and resilience in this world. ⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️
An old bitter man to Buddha: “Buddha, every day you come here smiling and every day I curse your name, I curse your family and everything you believe in” the old man says, "but every day you enter this city with a smile knowing that I await you with my harsh tongue, and everyday you leave through the same entrance with that same smile.
"I know by speaking to you now that you are not deaf, why do you keep on smiling while I do nothing but scream the worst things I can think of to your face?”
Buddha, with the same smile still on his face looks at the old man and asks “If I were to bring you a gift tomorrow morning all wrapped up in a beautiful box would you accept it?” to which the old man replies “Absolutely not, I would take nothing from the likes of you!”.
“Ah ha” the Buddha replies “Well if I were to offer you this gift and you were to refuse then who would this gift belong to?”.
“It would still belong to you of course”, answers the old man.
“And so the same goes with your anger, when I choose not to accept your gift of anger, does it not then remain your own?”
ba-dum-tss burnnnn, buddha style..
This is not easy to do in a world that constantly defaults to self victimisation. While it is kind to listen, it would be wise to know when to guard yourself against non-constructive rhetoric such as chronic bitterness.
Fellow health practitioners and people who are carers, do take note.
No one can benefit from you burning out.
