I hope that everything bad descends upon her

I don’t live or train at MAPLE, but I work for an organization that is close to them. We held a board meeting recently, and as Soryu is on our board, I had time to speak with him in person.

In our conversation, we happened to discuss one of my colleagues. He had spoken with her earlier that day, and I said that she is amazing. I asked him his opinion of her, and he said, "I hope that in the fullness of time, from now into the unimaginable future, everything bad descends upon her."

I was shocked and confused. I shook my head and laughed a little. I assumed that I had not heard him correctly, and I pulled him across the porch to a corner. We had been near other conversations and also near the road, and once we were more sheltered, I said that I didn't hear him and asked him the same question again. He repeated his first answer word for word.

I again shook my head and laughed, not sure what else to do. I had no idea what to say next. I just asked, "What?"

He brought up a painful exchange the day before, when a guest had insulted her in front of the whole group and complained that he wanted more of her attention. It was completely inappropriate. She handled it skillfully and he eventually apologized.

Soryu said that this guest had so much anger in his heart that he couldn't find a way forward. Of course the anger had nothing to do with her, but because of the way she handled it when it was directed at her, our guest could work through it and express regret, which helped him profoundly.

Soryu said that this is why he hoped all bad would come to her. “Whenever anyone with a connection to her finds themselves in their worst state of mind, so bad they can’t handle it on their own, I hope they will be fortunate enough to direct their misguided, disgusting minds at her, so that her love and wisdom will help them overcome what they cannot overcome alone.”

I said, "I appreciate that in all of your teachings, you include care for the emotions of all people."