" Once there was an ugly, smelly, angry monster who used unpleasant language wanting to enter an emperor's castle. The guards were so scared that they let him in to the castle. Once he was inside, the guards realized what happened and went to chase him away. When they saw the monster seated on the Emperor's throne, they were unkind and abused him. Each time an unpleasant and abusive word was mentioned the monster grew an inch bigger, more smellier, uglier and the words that came from his mouth were a nightmare to hear! The servants in the castle took the same approach of handling the monster as the guards.Recently there was a talk which was held at the university of Toronto for about 300 hundred students, that I attended of Ajahn Brahm. The story was so true, powerful and had an impact on my life, thought of sharing with all of you.
Upon the return of the kind and smart emperor, who saw the monster seated on his throne. Instead of being unkind to him he was companionate, generous and kind to him. With each act of his generosity and kind approach the monster shrank and disappeared."
The moral of this story is each time we cultivate anger within ourselves, we are like that monster! The best treatment to conquer anger is with kindness to oneself and others. This story has helped me realize the monster in me, each time I got angry. Now I try to be fully aware when I get angry and calm myself by applying the antidote which is kindness, firstly to myself and then the person that I got angry with. Please try it yourself the next time you get angry because it is perfectly safe and moreover it works!!
Written by Puri Jayasekera
(To listen to this story, click play in a new window in the link given below)
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
November 7, 2012 – 7 PM – At the Universtiy of Toronto. Organized by New College, University of Toronto: Buddhism, Psychology and Mental Health Program.
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