________________
Rays of Dharma
After having food, the man opened the bag for counting the coins and found that one coin was missing. He thought that the monk had taken it from the bag. He rushed to the monk's hut and started abusing him for dishonesty and misappropriation. The monk, however, remained unperturbed. The man went back home and told his wife that the monk was a rogue and had taken out one coin from the bag.
When the wife said that she had taken the coin for buying the groceries, the man repented for accusing the monk and misbehaving with him. He went back to the monk and humbly requested for forgiveness. The monk took a little earth from the ground and said that for him the man's praises and abuses were of no more importance than the pinch of earth. He was neither elated by the praises nor felt bad for the abuses. Only those who remain cool like sandalwood, are entitled to be called religious. We should learn to observe such equanimity in all circumstances. If someone in the family commits a mistake, we should not be mad; we should remain peaceful and explain to the person about his mistake at the proper time. That would be the test for our objectivity and equanimity.
100
