“Someone had heard that the Buddha was incredibly humane and benevolent, and came dashing up to scold the Buddha. The Buddha pitied his foolish arrogance and thus kept silent, not responding to him. The Buddha waited for him to end his diatribe and then asked, “When you give a gift to someone and they do not accept it, what do you do?” He replied, “I take it home.” The Buddha then told him, “Today you scold me and I don't accept it, so please return and take it away with you!”.

When we slander or scold another person and if that person does not care, then not only are you unable to harm the other person, but instead you just harm yourself. It is just like giving a gift to someone who does not accept it, in that the only thing you can do is to return home with it, so we must be prudent and cautious.”

Master Sheng Yen