What is in your purse?

The story below is related by the great Sufi teacher Attar:

As the Prophet Isa and his disciples entered a village, some of the villagers began to harass the Prophet, shouting unkind words and harsh accusations.

But the Prophet answered them by bowing down and saying prayers for their happiness and well-being.

A disciple said to him: 'You prayed for these men, aren't you filled with anger toward them ?'

Prophet Isa answered: 'I could only spend from what I had in my purse.'

When the situation is pleasant and comfortable, it is easy to be nice. But when we're faced with an unpleasant situation, then we begin to react from the very foundation of our being and automatically draw from of the depths of our purse. If, in such difficult situations, we respond in an unwholesome manner with anger, fear, hatred or violence, then that shows all too clearly what our purse really contains.

So, my dear friends, what's in your purse?

If you wish to travel far and fast, travel light. Take off all your envies, jealousies, unforgiveness, selfishness, and fears - Glenn Clark