The gift of insults

Near Tokyo there lived a great Samurai, now very old, who used to teach Zen Buddhism to young people. In spite of his age, legend told that he was still able to defeat any adversary.

One afternoon, a warrior, who he was known for his complete lack of scruples, showed up there. He was famous for using techniques of provocation: he waited until his adversary made the first move, and being gifted with an enviable intelligence which allowed him to repair any mistake, he counterattacked with lightning speed.
The young and impatient warrior had never lost a fight. Knowing the Samurai's reputation, he had come to beat him, and increase his fame.
All of the students were against the idea, but the old man accepted the challenge.
Everyone went to the town square, and the young man started insulting the old master. He threw some rocks in his direction, spat in his face, shouted every insult he knew, and he even insulted his ancestors. For hours, he did everything he could provoke him, but the old man remained impassive. At the end of the afternoon, feeling exhausted and humiliated, the impetuous warrior left.
Disappointed by the fact that the master had received so many insults and provocations, the students asked him: 
-"How could you bear such indignity? Why didn't you use your sword, even knowing that you might lose the fight, instead of being a coward in front of us all?"
-"If someone comes to you with a gift, and you don't accept it, who does the gift belong to?" Asked the Samurai.
-"He who tried to deliver it," - replied one of his disciples.
-"The same goes for envy, anger and insults." - said the master. -"When they are not accepted, they continue to belong to the one who carried it with them."

Author: Paulo Coelho