A Parable

The student asked the teacher: "If someone offends me and tries to provoke me, what should I do?" The teacher pondered: "If someone approaches you with a gift and you do not accept it, to whom does the gift belong?" "To its original owner," replied the student. "The same is true for envy, hatred, and insults. As long as you do not accept them, they belong to the one who brings them."