Deep Commentary

Continuing the lesson regarding the monk Kundadhana, the Buddha emphasized the virtue of patience and non-reactivity. In life, there will always be those who slander or harm us out of jealousy or power. Retaliating only fuels a never-ending cycle of suffering and anger. Conflicts often arise from narrow, subjective viewpoints, much like the parable of the blind men and the elephant, or the Zen story of two monks arguing whether the flag or the wind was moving, when in truth, it was their minds that moved. The Buddha advises us to be like a broken gong—remaining silent and unprovoked by insults. By doing so, we extinguish the fires of conflict and experience the peace of Nibbana in the present moment.