There’s a Buddhist parable where a poor farmer’s only horse runs away and everyone is heartbroken for him because they lost a key to the family’s survival. He responds, perhaps.
The next day, the horse returns with a stallion and everybody celebrates because he’s been given this great gift. He replies, perhaps.
His son goes to train the wild stallion and his throne, breaking his leg. Again, the villagers are distraught. He replies, perhaps.
The next day, the army comes through recruiting new soldiers. Every son in the village is taken except for the farmers because of the broken leg. Everyone proclaimed how blessed he is again he responds, perhaps.
While I don’t believe that everything happens for a reason, I do believe we can never know the outcomes of any given situation, so I aim to live with openness rather than making conclusive judgements.
From there I ask what I can control and focus on where I do have agency.
Your take on setbacks as invitations is realy brilliant. How do you keep that perspective when everything feels so overwhelming?
Thanks! And thanks for the question.
There’s a Buddhist parable where a poor farmer’s only horse runs away and everyone is heartbroken for him because they lost a key to the family’s survival. He responds, perhaps.
The next day, the horse returns with a stallion and everybody celebrates because he’s been given this great gift. He replies, perhaps.
His son goes to train the wild stallion and his throne, breaking his leg. Again, the villagers are distraught. He replies, perhaps.
The next day, the army comes through recruiting new soldiers. Every son in the village is taken except for the farmers because of the broken leg. Everyone proclaimed how blessed he is again he responds, perhaps.
While I don’t believe that everything happens for a reason, I do believe we can never know the outcomes of any given situation, so I aim to live with openness rather than making conclusive judgements.
From there I ask what I can control and focus on where I do have agency.