“If someone offers you a gift and you refuse it, to whom does it belong?” asked Buddha.

“It belongs to the person who offered it,” a man who abused Buddha replied.

“That is correct,” the Buddha smiled. “If I refuse to accept your abuse, doesn’t it still belong to you?” Speechless, the man walked away.

The more selflessly and independently we work while adhering to truth, the more resistance we face. Today, we celebrate Swami Vivekananda, but during his lifetime, he was accused of being a fake monk, a traitor who founded the Advaita ashram against Sri Ramakrishna, and a fraudulent renunciant his guru refused to initiate.

This has been a recurring theme in history. Such criticisms arise from insecure individuals consumed by their egos and negativity. After all, what’s in you is what you can offer others.

“Be practical,” says my husband (let’s call him Shiva). Perhaps one of the most practical individuals I’ve ever known, he handles challenging situations like a piece of cake. When insults were thrown freely at me, he gave me a pep talk —

Build an imaginary fortress in your mind. Whatever comes your way — good or bad, check it like a guard. Then, allow only opinions and even people who are progressive for your life into this fortress.

What he taught me is the art of non-reaction. It comes from him, who can give any sage or monk a run for his money with his non-reactive attitude.

Thanks to Shiva, I have a different outlook on life today. I now realize self-love is paramount. As long as I love and respect myself, the opinions of others are just noise.

Love yourself, seek validation from none, and become non-reactive. Then, sit back and smile at people’s actions. Believe me, it’s often far more amusing than even what the best stand-up comedian can write!

Love,
Sri Devi Om

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Check out this movie about Swami Vivekananda. I shared it right as he mentions being called a cheat.