Buddha's Disciple

A funny thing happened in Denver...There were 2 therapists at the intensive, and my teacher gave a long (and excellent) discourse on the emotional body based on questions they had asked. Just as he gets to the pinnacle of the message, just as he is about to hand them diamonds they can use with their clients, they both get up and head to the bathroom.

I think my jaw hit the floor when my mouth fell open.

I asked my teacher later if he was frustrated by this turn of events. He said no, that he was used to it because people always leave right when the ego needs to hear the most important thing, but, he said, "Maybe YOU are frustrated."

I denied it of course, true to form. I don't know why I bother anymore (to deny).

So the next day my teacher is speaking again, and he tells this story I've heard many times and have absolutely always loved to hear because it reminds me of me and my teacher. My teacher is a great story teller (pardon my slaughtering of the story...).

The Buddha is giving blessings, and there is a very long line of people waiting to approach him. One man is really irate and upset by the Buddha. He's just all in his stuff, but he decides to stand in line so he can tell the Buddha what he thinks of him and whatnot.

When the angry man finally stands before the Buddha he is so upset that he cannot even utter a word, so he spits in the Buddha's face.

The Buddha's top disciple is next to him, and lunges for the spitting man, enraged at the disrespect, but the Buddha puts a hand up and stops him as he begins to laugh. Buddha laughs and laughs, as he wipes his face. The disciple pleads to be allowed to defend his master's honor, but the Buddha just shakes his head as he laughs.

The angry man is beside himself at the Buddha's reaction and stomps away. But as he leaves, he softens, and suddenly feels very ashamed that he spit in this nice man's face. This man had done nothing but offer his blessings, and he didn't even know why he had gotten so mad. So he gets back in line to apologize.

As he approaches the Buddha once more, he falls to his knees and begs forgiveness. The Buddha says, "I cannot forgive you. You see, I wasn't sure if there was still a seed of anger in me, so I asked for an unmistakeable sign so I would know one way or another. When you spit in my face you gave me a great gift. Now I know there is no anger left in me, therefore I cannot forgive you because there is nothing to forgive." He pauses, then, "But if you wish, you may ask my disciple for forgiveness."


Okay, so I always loved that story because I soooo strongly identified with Buddha's disciple. I was right there with him wanting to kick some butt. But this time when my teacher told the story (it's been a couple of years since I heard it), I realized I no longer related to the disciple's anger. Maybe a twinge, but only a little thing. I wasn't even sure what to make of it other than that I noticed a difference in my own response to the story. Still love the story though!

So then my teacher starts talking about triggers, and one of the examples he used was that the night before, one of his students had thought he was frustrated. He relates the story anonymously (as I smirk, trying hard not to giggle). He says, "It's okay. They will know soon enough that they were the one who was frustrated."

The giggles died a quick death as I move into contemplation, looking for the frustration in me.

My teacher wraps it up and looks at me and grins and shakes his head, holding my gaze.

I realized he was right (again). *I* was the one frustrated that the other 2 stepped out and missed the jewels of wisdom being offered. I was the one who felt they'd wasted his time. "What can I say?" I asked him as he continued to look at me. "I'm still Buddha's disciple!" And we both cracked up laughing.

It was a great way to end our weekend together. Very sweet.