Hearing stories of an enlightenment, a man travelled far to find the Buddha. The visiting man was full of hatred, anger and bitterness. When he found the Buddha, he relentlessly shouted at him, cursed, ridiculed and taunted him, spouting his anger and hatred. Quietly and joyfully, the Buddha continued his meditations. Eventually the visitor grew tired as he saw he had not broken the Buddha at all.

Finally the Buddha spoke. He said, “Let me ask you a question.” If a man brings me a gift and I refuse to accept it, to whom does the gift belong?”

The visitor thought for a minute and replied, “To the one who brought it.”

Smiling, the Buddha then said, “So if you come to me with the gift of hatred and I refuse to accept it, to whom does the hatred belong?”