There once was an old Zen farmer known for his peculiar outlook on life. Each day, he relied on his horse to work the fields, keeping his farm productive.
One stormy night, the horse broke free and disappeared into the wilderness. The villagers, sympathetic, came by and said, “We’re so sorry to hear this. This is such bad luck.”
The farmer, unperturbed, replied,
“Bad luck. Good luck. Who knows?”
Puzzled, the villagers left. Weeks passed, and one afternoon, while working in the fields, the farmer saw his horse returning, leading a dozen wild horses. Now, he had many horses to help on the farm.
The villagers, astonished, exclaimed, “What great fortune! This is such good luck!”
The farmer’s response remained the same,
“Good luck. Bad luck. Who knows?”
A few days later, the farmer’s son, while trying to train one of the new horses, was thrown off and broke his leg. The villagers came to express their condolences. “What terrible luck,” they said.
The farmer simply replied,
“Bad luck. Good luck. Who knows?”
A month later, while the son was still recovering, a regiment of the army came marching through town conscripting every able-bodied young man to join them. When the regiment came to the farmer’s house and saw the young boy’s broken leg, they marched past and left him where he lay.
Of course, all the villagers came by and said, “Amazing! Your son’s injury was good luck. You’re so fortunate.”
And you know the farmer’s response by now…
“Bad luck. Good luck. Who knows?“
Lesson
This story teaches us that life is full of ups and downs, and it’s hard to know what will happen next. What seems like bad luck today might turn out to be good luck tomorrow, and vice versa. Instead of getting too upset or too excited about events, it’s better to stay calm and patient. Accepting things as they come helps us handle challenges and opportunities with a clear mind. Life is unpredictable, so trust the journey and remember that every situation can lead to something good. Keep an open heart and mind, and let life unfold naturally.
