“That’s Disgusting!”: When Your Disgust Says More About You

when your disgust says more about you

I once heard that a long time ago, a group of men who had leprosy came to the temple to follow the Zen way. The master welcomed these “untouchable” men into his temple, and he even washed and shaved their heads with his own hands. 

Now it happened that a wealthy man who had donated the temple to the master was walking by – and he was just absolutely appalled and revolted by what he saw. At once, he brought the master a bucket to wash his hands; but the master refused, saying, “Your disgust is much filthier than their sores.”

Is there a group of people who disgusts you? What makes them disgusting? Is it their actions? Is it their words? Is it their beliefs? I wonder if your disgust with others contributes to making this world a better place or not. Maybe it does. But then again, maybe it doesn’t. In fact, it’s possible that your disgust with others says much more about you than it does those with whom you are disgusted.