Powerful Lesson About Acceptance, Judgement, And Detachment

This powerful story of the Chinese farmer teaches us about suspension of judgment regarding what actually is a tragedy or a triumph. Can we really always tell what is fortunate and what is unlucky? Might the wiser course of action often be to withhold judgment rather than definitively declare if whatever happens is "good" or "bad". Or maybe the story teaches us about how what appears to be bad initially may ultimately be a blessing instead.

Transcript

The Story of the Chinese Farmer Once upon a time there was a farmer in a small village in China. One day his only horse ran away. The neighbors came to sympathize. Oh no! How unlucky! The farmer simply replied, Maybe. The next day the horse returned and brought with it several wild horses. The neighbors cheered. Wow! How fortunate! The farmer simply said, Maybe. The following day, While trying to tame one of the wild horses, The farmer's son fell and broke his leg. The neighbors lamented. Oh no! Such bad luck! The farmer only said, Maybe. A week later, The emperor's army came to the village, Conscripting all able-bodied young men for war. When they saw the farmer's son with his broken leg, They left him behind. The neighbors exclaimed, Oh how lucky you are! The farmer once again simply replied, Maybe.