---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: A Buddhist story is that a man came…"
description: "\"“A Buddhist story is that a man came shouting angrily at Buddha, who remained unaffected by him. When questioned by others as to how he remained calm a..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/09f/bronnie-ware-20283_anger_a-buddhist-story-is-that-a-man-came-shou_3199030.jpg"
---

#  A Buddhist story is that a man came shouting angrily at…

![“A Buddhist story is that a man came shouting angrily at Buddha, who remained unaffected by him. When questioned by others as to how he remained calm and unaffected, Buddha answered with a question. “If someone gives you a gift and you choose not to receive it, to whom then does the gift belong?”…” quote by Bronnie Ware](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/09f/bronnie-ware-20283_anger_a-buddhist-story-is-that-a-man-came-shou_3199030.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/09f/bronnie-ware-20283_anger_a-buddhist-story-is-that-a-man-came-shou_3199030.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/09f/bronnie-ware-20283_anger_a-buddhist-story-is-that-a-man-came-shou_3199030.jpg)

> ““A Buddhist story is that a man came shouting angrily at Buddha, who remained unaffected by him. When questioned by others as to how he remained calm and unaffected, Buddha answered with a question. “If someone gives you a gift and you choose not to receive it, to whom then does the gift belong?” Of course it stays with the giver.””

[Bronnie Ware](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bronnie-ware/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Buddha teaches that refusing a gift is equivalent to keeping it; the giver retains ownership, illustrating the futility of rejection.

**In simple terms:** Rejecting a gift means you still have it.

Key Takeaway

Accept gifts without resistance to avoid unnecessary conflict.

Themes

spirituality acceptance mindfulness

Mood

calm insightful

Type

philosophical inspirational

When to use this quote

- meditation practice
- conflict resolution
- personal growth

Key Concepts

non‑attachment gift metaphor

Questions to Reflect On

- How does accepting what is offered change your perspective?
- What does “gift” symbolize in everyday life?

A Different Perspective

Rejection can create unnecessary tension.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Anger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/anger/) [Buddhism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/buddhism/) [Buddhist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/buddhist/) [Calmness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/calmness/)

## Related quotes

> [There's a Buddhist story about the guy who wants to be enlightened, and then he gets a cow and a wife and a child,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larkin-grimm/there-s-a-buddhist-story-about-the-guy-who-wants-to-be-enlightened/)

[Larkin Grimm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larkin-grimm/)

> [“A man met the Buddha after the Buddha became enlightened. The man was awed by his remarkable radiance. "What are you?" the man asked.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linda-leaming/a-man-met-the-buddha-after-the-buddha-became-enlightened-the-man-was/)

[Linda Leaming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linda-leaming/)

> [“13. A Buddha In Tokyo in th Meiji era there lived two prominent teachers of opposite characteristics. One, Unsho, an instructor in Shingon, kept…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nyogen-senzaki-and-paul-reps/13-a-buddha-in-tokyo-in-th-meiji-era-there-lived-two-prominent/)

[Nyogen Senzaki and Paul Reps](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nyogen-senzaki-and-paul-reps/)

> [Pray with perseverance, with faith, with calmness and serenity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pio-of-pietrelcina/pray-with-perseverance-with-faith-with-calmness-and-serenity/)

[Pio of Pietrelcina](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pio-of-pietrelcina/)

> [What is deservedly suffered must be borne with calmness, but when the pain is unmerited, the grief is resistless.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ovid/what-is-deservedly-suffered-must-be-borne-with-calmness-but-when-the/)

[Ovid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ovid/)

> [“To pass from the extremes of danger to safety-from the tumult of war to the tranquility of peace, though sweet in contemplation, requires a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-paine/to-pass-from-the-extremes-of-danger-to-safety-from-the-tumult-of-war/)

[Thomas Paine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-paine/)

> [The great constitutional corrective in the hands of the people against usurpation of power, or corruption by their agents is the right of suffrage;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-jackson/the-great-constitutional-corrective-in-the-hands-of-the-people/)

[Andrew Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-jackson/)

> [Compassion automatically brings happiness and calmness. Then, even if you receive disturbing news, it will be easier to take, as your mind is still.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalai-lama/compassion-automatically-brings-happiness-and-calmness-then-even-if/)

[Dalai Lama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalai-lama/)

> [Being empowered includes developing the powerful qualities that lead human beings to cultivate wellness and healing. And those are the same qualities that enhance…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryan-kest/being-empowered-includes-developing-the-powerful-qualities-that-lead/)

[Bryan Kest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryan-kest/)

> [“Mindfulness (present-moment awareness) is deliberately focusing our attention on our thoughts, emotions, feelings, sensations and mental activity without losing awareness of what is happening…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-dines/mindfulness-present-moment-awareness-is-deliberately-focusing-our/)

[Christopher Dines](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-dines/)

> [“In the moments of your deepest need, despair and desperation, what you need more than any other thing, is calm and faith.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryant-mcgill/in-the-moments-of-your-deepest-need-despair-and-desperation-what-you/)

[Bryant McGill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryant-mcgill/)

> [“Be calm; yet assertive. Be meek; yet courageous. Be gentle; yet bold. Be kind; yet strong.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-f-glassman-2/be-calm-yet-assertive-be-meek-yet-courageous-be-gentle-yet-bold-be/)

[Charles F Glassman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-f-glassman-2/)

> [“Like gratitude, authentic appreciation in the workplace is a realisation that can be nurtured and accessed with daily mindful practice. By and large, people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-dines/like-gratitude-authentic-appreciation-in-the-workplace-is-a/)

[Christopher Dines](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-dines/)

> [Everybody loves to talk about calmness and peace, whether in a family, national, or international context, but without inner peace how can we make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalai-lama/everybody-loves-to-talk-about-calmness-and-peace-whether-in-a-family/)

[Dalai Lama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalai-lama/)

> [“But he's got your way of making me lean into peace whenever I see red.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adele-griffin/but-he-s-got-your-way-of-making-me-lean-into-peace-whenever-i-see-red/)

[Adele Griffin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adele-griffin/)

## More by Bronnie Ware

> [“There is a fine line between compassion and a victim mentality. Compassion though is a healing force and comes from a place of kindness…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bronnie-ware/there-is-a-fine-line-between-compassion-and-a-victim-mentality/)

[Bronnie Ware](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bronnie-ware/)

> [“Don’t work too hard. Try to maintain balance. Don’t make work your whole life.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bronnie-ware/don-t-work-too-hard-try-to-maintain-balance-don-t-make-work-your/)

[Bronnie Ware](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bronnie-ware/)

> [“The only true thing that brings out the best in anyone is love.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bronnie-ware/the-only-true-thing-that-brings-out-the-best-in-anyone-is-love/)

[Bronnie Ware](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bronnie-ware/)

> [“It was at that point ... that I remembered the importance of surrender, of letting go and allowing nature to weave its magic.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bronnie-ware/it-was-at-that-point-that-i-remembered-the-importance-of-surrender-of/)

[Bronnie Ware](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bronnie-ware/)

> [“Don’t worry about the little stuff. None of it matters. Only love matters. If you remember this, that love is always present; it will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bronnie-ware/don-t-worry-about-the-little-stuff-none-of-it-matters-only-love/)

[Bronnie Ware](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bronnie-ware/)

> [“They say though that we do more to avoid pain than we do to gain pleasure. So it is when the pain becomes too…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bronnie-ware/they-say-though-that-we-do-more-to-avoid-pain-than-we-do-to-gain/)

[Bronnie Ware](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bronnie-ware/)

> [“It is much easier to be strong in faith when you are smiling. So it would automatically lift my mood and reassure me that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bronnie-ware/it-is-much-easier-to-be-strong-in-faith-when-you-are-smiling-so-it/)

[Bronnie Ware](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bronnie-ware/)

> [“... to be in any sort of relationship where you do not express yourself, simply to keep the peace, is a relationship ruled by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bronnie-ware/to-be-in-any-sort-of-relationship-where-you-do-not-express-yourself/)

[Bronnie Ware](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bronnie-ware/)

> [“Surrender is not giving up, far from it. Surrender takes an enormous amount of courage. Often we are only capable of doing so when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bronnie-ware/surrender-is-not-giving-up-far-from-it-surrender-takes-an-enormous/)

[Bronnie Ware](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bronnie-ware/)

> [“The clock ticks for every one of us. It is your own choice how you spend your remaining days.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bronnie-ware/the-clock-ticks-for-every-one-of-us-it-is-your-own-choice-how-you/)

[Bronnie Ware](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bronnie-ware/)

> [“Life doesn’t owe us anything. We only owe ourselves, to make the most of the life we are living, of the time we have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bronnie-ware/life-doesn-t-owe-us-anything-we-only-owe-ourselves-to-make-the-most/)

[Bronnie Ware](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bronnie-ware/)

> [“Life is over so quickly. It is possible to reach the end with no regrets. It takes some bravery to live it right, to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bronnie-ware/life-is-over-so-quickly-it-is-possible-to-reach-the-end-with-no/)

[Bronnie Ware](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bronnie-ware/)

> [“I had to let go first. Trying to control the timing and outcome was a terrible waste of energy. My intentions were already out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bronnie-ware/i-had-to-let-go-first-trying-to-control-the-timing-and-outcome-was-a/)

[Bronnie Ware](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bronnie-ware/)

> [“They say that everything comes down to love or fear: every emotion, every action, and every thought.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bronnie-ware/they-say-that-everything-comes-down-to-love-or-fear-every-emotion/)

[Bronnie Ware](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bronnie-ware/)

> [“It’s not just about staying in touch with your friends, my dear girl. It is about giving yourself the gift of their company too.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bronnie-ware/it-s-not-just-about-staying-in-touch-with-your-friends-my-dear-girl/)

[Bronnie Ware](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bronnie-ware/)

[Explore all 30 Bronnie Ware quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bronnie-ware/)

## More Anger quotes

> [“If I let myself think of it the pain and anger were still fresh, adrenalin racing down my limbs to pool, hot and itchy,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kylie-ladd/if-i-let-myself-think-of-it-the-pain-and-anger-were-still-fresh/)

[Kylie Ladd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kylie-ladd/)

> [I receive something we might euphemistically call an 'inappropriately hostile' response - that is to say, more than fair criticism or even fair anger…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-beard/i-receive-something-we-might-euphemistically-call-an-inappropriately/)

[Mary Beard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-beard/)

> [The vision of the left, full of envy and resentment, takes its worst toll on those at the bottom - whether black or white…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-sowell/the-vision-of-the-left-full-of-envy-and-resentment-takes-its-worst/)

[Thomas Sowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-sowell/)

> [Anger is a rough water; if you can canalize it into a water mill, you can benefit from it. Anything bad can be transformed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/anger-is-a-rough-water-if-you-can-canalize-it-into-a-water-mill-you/)

[Mehmet Murat Ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/)

> [“Some say the Earth is angry Because he wants no company; I say the Earth is angry Because he lives alone.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/n-k-jemisin/some-say-the-earth-is-angry-because-he-wants-no-company-i-say-the/)

[N.K. Jemisin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/n-k-jemisin/)

> [“When you feel terribly angry, you're possessed by anger ghost.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/toba-beta/when-you-feel-terribly-angry-you-re-possessed-by-anger-ghost/)

[Toba Beta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/toba-beta/)

> [“Medical studies have shown that cursing reduces levels of stress and pain. Repressing your anger is not healthy. It's much better to verbalize it,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-markus-malloy/medical-studies-have-shown-that-cursing-reduces-levels-of-stress-and/)

[Oliver Markus Malloy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-markus-malloy/)

> [My care will be in the heart n not in words My anger will be in Words n not in the Heart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ritu-ghatourey/my-care-will-be-in-the-heart-n-not-in-words-my-anger-will-be-in-words/)

[Ritu Ghatourey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ritu-ghatourey/)

> [You should be angry. You must not be bitter. Bitterness is like cancer. It eats upon the host. It doesn't do anything to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-angelou/you-should-be-angry-you-must-not-be-bitter-bitterness-is-like-cancer/)

[Maya Angelou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-angelou/)

> [To be a Negro in this country and to be relatively conscious is to be in a rage almost all the time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/to-be-a-negro-in-this-country-and-to-be-relatively-conscious-is-to-be/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [“God, you had enough time to have been through it three times. You've been through my stuff. I bet you over and let one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-king/god-you-had-enough-time-to-have-been-through-it-three-times-you-ve/)

[Stephen King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-king/)

> [The present contains nothing more than the past, and what is found in the effect was already in the cause.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-bergson/the-present-contains-nothing-more-than-the-past-and-what-is-found-in/)

[Henri Bergson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-bergson/)

> [Depression is merely anger without enthusiasm.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-wright/depression-is-merely-anger-without-enthusiasm/)

[Steven Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-wright/)

> [I always fight better when my opponent's angry.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-haye/i-always-fight-better-when-my-opponent-s-angry/)

[David Haye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-haye/)

> [ “Where there are kashays (anger-pride-deceit-greed), there is worldly life. As long as anger-pride-deceit-greed exist; one is a sansaari \[living a worldly life\] regardless of… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dada-bhagwan/where-there-are-kashays-anger-pride-deceit-greed-there-is-worldly/)

[Dada Bhagwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dada-bhagwan/)

[Browse all 7,469 Anger quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/anger/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "“A Buddhist story is that a man came shouting angrily at Buddha, who remained unaffected by him. When questioned by others as to how he remained calm and unaffected, Buddha answered with a question. “If someone gives you a gift and you choose not to receive it, to whom then does the gift belong?” Of course it stays with the giver.”",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Bronnie Ware"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bronnie-ware/a-buddhist-story-is-that-a-man-came-shouting-angrily-at-buddha-who/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Anger"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bronnie-ware/a-buddhist-story-is-that-a-man-came-shouting-angrily-at-buddha-who/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/09f/bronnie-ware-20283_anger_a-buddhist-story-is-that-a-man-came-shou_3199030.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/09f/bronnie-ware-20283_anger_a-buddhist-story-is-that-a-man-came-shou_3199030.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/09f/bronnie-ware-20283_anger_a-buddhist-story-is-that-a-man-came-shou_3199030.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“A Buddhist story is that a man came shouting angrily at Buddha, who remained unaffected by him. When…” — Bronnie Ware",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "Bronnie Ware",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bronnie-ware/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "“A Buddhist story is that a...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bronnie-ware/a-buddhist-story-is-that-a-man-came-shouting-angrily-at-buddha-who/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bronnie-ware/a-buddhist-story-is-that-a-man-came-shouting-angrily-at-buddha-who/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
