From the Abbot

"The Idiot"
(from a collection by Ajahn Brahm)

​"Someone calls you an Idiot. Then you start thinking, 'How can they call me an idiot? They've got no right to call me an idiot! How rude to call me an idiot! I'll get back at them for calling me an idiot.' And you suddenly realize that you have just let them call you an idiot another four times.

Every time you remember what they said, you allow them to call you an idiot yet again. Therein lies the problem. If someone calls you an idiot and you immediately let it go, then it doesn't bother you. There is the solution.

Why allow other people to control your inner happiness? 

We are all, from time to time, guilty of doing this. We must learn to let it go. The more we stew about it the more we let it take control.

So let us practice letting go."