Good luck, bad luck : who knows?
Posted on Mar 18th, 2007
by 
sass
sass
I read a version of this story over the weekend. Its simple but it really resonated with me.. as the primary message that stabilised in me during the OpenDharma retreat I did in India was the sense of not knowing what was next on the path but knowing that there was always a surprise in store ...
The Lost Horse - Chinese Folktale.
There was a farmer who lived on the northern frontier of China.
One day, for no reason, his horse ran away to the nomads across the border. Everyone tried to console him, but his father said, "What makes you so sure this isn't a blessing?"
Some months later his horse returned, bringing a splendid nomad stallion. Everyone congratulated him, but his father said, "What makes you so sure this isn't a disaster?"
Their household was richer by a fine horse, which his son loved to ride. One day he fell and broke his hip. Everyone tried to console him, but his father said, "What makes you so sure this isn't a blessing?"
A year later the nomads came in force across the border, and every able-bodied man was conscripted into battle. Only the man's son was left in the village because of his broken bones.
Blessing turns to disaster, and disaster to blessing: good luck, bad luck, who knows?
The Lost Horse - Chinese Folktale.
There was a farmer who lived on the northern frontier of China.
One day, for no reason, his horse ran away to the nomads across the border. Everyone tried to console him, but his father said, "What makes you so sure this isn't a blessing?"
Some months later his horse returned, bringing a splendid nomad stallion. Everyone congratulated him, but his father said, "What makes you so sure this isn't a disaster?"
Their household was richer by a fine horse, which his son loved to ride. One day he fell and broke his hip. Everyone tried to console him, but his father said, "What makes you so sure this isn't a blessing?"
A year later the nomads came in force across the border, and every able-bodied man was conscripted into battle. Only the man's son was left in the village because of his broken bones.
Blessing turns to disaster, and disaster to blessing: good luck, bad luck, who knows?
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bad luck
May 2008
Hi my love. I've always thought this story also reminds us of the virtue of remaining in neverending inquiry without conclusion as a path to presence.
I've heard folks tell this story and intimate that the Farmer remains present becasue he isn't drawing conclusions… but I think that just promotes anti-intellecualism. For me, the farmer remains present not becasue he doesn't inquire into what arises in his proximity of awareness, but rather, in refusing to conceptualise his experience into a final position he affords himself continued witnessing and response-ability to the unfolding mysteries around him.
xx
i love this story
so reminding us to remember that in all situations, moments there is great miracles and often great healing, its like once we put our attention on something, it becomes…
Here's to
Seeing all things as perfection..