“Did you know that in the olden days, it was quite dangerous for us to spread the words of the Buddha? Frequent beatings and insults were the norm. I heard some were even killed.”
“Why is this tea so bitter?” I would prefer drinking plain hot water over this. There was even a dandelion head in it.
“The established religions and authorities of that time didn’t take it well when the monks went and preached our teachings. One day, a monk by the name Punna, was taking this arduous task into a particularly uncivilized part of the land, and so he went to the Buddha to say goodbye.”
The Buddha said to him, “Those people in that area are very uncivilized. They’re known to be very rough. What will you do if they insult you?”
Punna replied, “If they insult me, I will say to myself, these are very good people in that they’re not hitting me.”
And the Buddha said, “What if they hit you?”
Punna answered, "These are very good people in that they are not stoning me.”
And the Buddha said, “What if they stone you?”
Punna answered, “These are very good people in that they are not stabbing me.”
And the Buddha said, “What if they stab you?”
Punna answered, “These are very good people in that they are not killing me.”
And the Buddha said, “What if they kill you?”
Punna answered, “At least I did not take my own life.”
And the Buddha said, “You are fit to go.”
“Now, would you describe Punna as foolish or wise.”
“He’s an idiot, the Buddha should have stopped him if he knew it was dangerous.”
“He should have shouldn’t he?”
“I would have stopped him.”
“Is that right?” He smiled.
“Don’t we have more sugar?”
“Why would you put sugar in broth?”
“What?”
“That’s bitter melon broth, it helps with digestion.” He chugged down his own cup, dandelion head and all.
