This Zen Parable is a Perfect Reminder in Times of Injustice and Despair
It’s hard to recall a time when so much suffering was this highly visible. It’s as if we have to prepare for a new kind of battle each day. It might not be happening in our community or even our country but we are more attuned to the injustices and prejudices of the world.
And sure enough, this motivates us — at least the resourceful amongst us — to act. We want to do our bit, start a conversation and help in whatever way we think we can. But as we all know there is only so much within our control and unfairness will keep on emerging in one way or the other.
That’s just how things are.
Even if we completely ignore the hyper-connected-global-consciousness element of our lives, we will continue to face failures, loss and embarrassment in our own personal and professional lives. And they might not be fair or justified as well. But we have got to face them and not let them ruin our lives.
This, among other things, requires spiritual growth. The ability to have higher intuition and faith; to look at things beyond mere logic and rationality. Because some plans in our lives will completely turn out to be train-wrecks and we will get screwed over and will be stolen from and our hearts will be mercilessly stomped on. And there is nothing that can prepare us for that except for trusting in the intangible.
Renowned philosopher Alan Watts, who was heavily influenced by Eastern schools of thought, tells a story of how we can cope with the tragedies and fortunes of life — as we don’t really know how one particular thing will turn it out to be.
Here’s the story of the Chinese Farmer:
Once upon a time there was a Chinese Farmer whose horse ran away. That evening, all of his neighbors came about to show their sympathies. They said, “We are so sorry to hear your horse has run away. This is most unfortunate.” The farmer said, “Maybe.”
The next day the horse came back, bringing seven wild horses along with it, and in the evening everybody came back and said, “Oh, isn’t that lucky? What a great turn of events. You now have eight healthy horses!” The farmer again said, “Maybe.”
The following day his son tried to tame one of the horses, and while riding it, he was thrown and broke his leg. The neighbors then said, “Oh dear, that’s too bad, your son must be in great pain,” and the farmer responded, “Maybe.”
The next day the conscription officers came around to enlist young people into the army, and they rejected his son because he had a broken leg. Again all the neighbors came around and said, “Isn’t that great!” Again, he said, “Maybe.”
You see, we don’t know the extent of a circumstance or situation. We don’t know our inner potential, our ability to handle adversity and/or change. We don’t know the chain of effects a particular event sets off.
Yes, the Type-A personalities among us, might freak out at this level of uncertainty and such lack of control. But in times of failure and distress, this realization is both powerful and freeing.
As Alan Watts explains it himself:
The whole process of nature is an integrated process of immense complexity, and it’s really impossible to tell whether anything that happens in it is good or bad — because you never know what will be the consequence of the misfortune; or, you never know what will be the consequences of good fortune.
And being okay with simply not knowing is something that we all should get accustomed to.
In times of success and prosperity, it will keep us grounded. In times of injustice and despair, it will give us hope.
