Here’s a classic story from the Zen world. To me, the utility of stories such as these is that they point directly at something experiential and are more effective in communicating subtle messages than are intellectual/conceptual explanations. Like a joke, you just get it (or you don’t) and you feel something.

Here’s my own retelling of the story:

There was an old farmer living with his son in a quiet village.

One day, his horse ran away.

Neighbors, hearing what happened, stopped by to see the farmer and share how sorry they were to hear what happened, as the horse was a valuable asset to the farm. “That’s terrible, such bad luck,” they said.

The farmer simply replied with a shrug, “Maybe.”

The next day, the horse returned and was not alone. It had found three other wild horses and they all returned to the farm together.

”Wow, what a fortunate turn of events,” the neighbors exclaimed.

”Maybe,” replied the farmer with his palms turned to the sky.

The next day, the farmer’s son tried riding one of the wild horses, was thrown to the ground, and broke his leg.

The neighbors came to offer their sympathy for what had happened. “That’s just too bad,” they said.

The farmer again replied, “Maybe.”

The following day, military officials came to the village to draft young soldiers for battle. Noticing that the farmer’s son’s leg was broken, they passed him by.

”What good luck,” the neighbors said.

”Maybe,” replied the farmer.

I’m reminded of a line also from the Zen world that goes, Zen is what lies beyond ideas of good and bad. But you might remover “Zen,” and replace it with “Reality” or “Truth.” In this moment, “It” just is, and I have the chance to act in response to “It” but I can’t change “It.” I may only be weighed down by focusing energy on evaluating “It” as good or bad, right or wrong. “It” simply is, and how I respond to “It” informs the quality of my life.

What lies beyond

ideas of good and bad.

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