A Chinese peasant's best
horse escaped from his barn stall and ran off. When his neighbors saw
him, they told him that they were sorry that he had lost his best
horse. His comment was: "I don't know whether this is good news
or bad news, I only know that I have lost my best horse."
The next day, the horse
returned with a bunch of wild horses running behind him, which the
peasant corralled. His neighbors came to congratulate him on his good
fortune. His response was: "I don't know whether this is good
news or bad news, I only know that I now have several additional
horses that I did not have to pay for."
The next day, the
peasant's oldest son attempted to break in one of the wild horses.
The horse threw him, and he broke his leg. The peasant's neighbors
told him that they were sorry to hear that his oldest son had been
injured. His response was: "I don't know whether this is good
news or bad news, I only know that my son has broken his leg."
The next day, military
officials came to conscript the young men of the village for military
service. The peasant's oldest son was left behind because of his
broken leg.
***
Through Zen practice we learn how to accept the circumstances of our lives whether or not they are agreeable to us. We become aware that "there is nothing either good or bad, but thinking makes it so."
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