Cattāri Brahmavihārā

Now Akkosaka of the Bhaaradvaaja Brahmans heard [of this.]. Angry and displeased, he went to see the Blessed One, overwhelming him with abuse and reproaches.

At these words the Blessed One said: “What do you think, brahman? Do you receive visits from friends and colleagues, blood-relations and others?”

“Yes, good Gotama, sometimes such people come.”

“What do you think? Do you serve them with solid food, soft food and savories?”

“Yes, good Gotama, sometimes.”

“But supposing, brahman, they do not accept what you offer, whose is it?”

“If they do not accept, good Gotama, then it belongs to us.”

“So it is here, brahman. The abuse, the scolding, the reviling you hurl at us who do not abuse or scold or revile, we do not accept from you. It all belongs to you, brahman, it all belongs to you!

If a man replies to abuse with abuse, to scolding with scolding, to reviling with reviling, brahman, that is like you joining your guests for dinner. But we are not joining you for dinner. It is all yours, brahman, it is all yours!”