The essential teaching of Buddhism is that the life of the Buddha resides in every plant and tree, even in the smallest dust mote

The essential teaching of Buddhism is that the life of the Buddha resides in every plant and tree, even in the smallest dust mote. It's a philosophy founded on a profound reverence for life.

Wisdom for Modern Life by Daisaku Ikeda 4/1

Story of Buddha

The Buddha explained how to handle insult and maintain compassion.

One day Buddha was walking through a village. A very angry and rude young man came up and began insulting him. "You have no right teaching others," he shouted. "You are as stupid as everyone else. You are nothing but a fake." Buddha was not upset by these insults.

Instead he asked the young man, "Tell me, if you buy a gift for someone, and that person does not take it, to which the gift belongs?" The man was surprised to be asked such a strange question and answered, "It would belong to me, because I bought the gift." The Buddha smiled and said, "That is correct.

And it is exactly the same with your anger. If you become angry with me and I do not get insulted, then the anger falls back on you. You are then the only one who becomes unhappy, not me.

All you have done is hurt yourself." "If you want to stop hurting yourself, you must get rid of your anger and become loving instead.

When you hate others, you yourself become unhappy. But when you love others, everyone is happy."

Enlightenment

You must never think that any of the eighty thousands sacred teachings of Shakyamuni Buddha's lifetime or any of the Buddhas and Bodhisattva of the ten directions and three existence are outside yourself. Your practice of the Buddhist teachings will not relieve you of the sufferings of birth and death in the least unless you perceive the true nature of your life. If you seek enlightenment outside yourself, then your performing even ten thousand practices and ten thousand good deeds will be in vain. It is like the case of a poor man who spends night and day counting his neighbour's wealth but gain not even half a coin.

- Nichiren