Good News — Bad News: Lessons From A Zen Buddhist Fable
One day in late summer, a farmer was working in his field with his old sick horse. The farmer felt compassion for the horse and desired to lift its burden. So he let his horse loose to go the mountains and live out the rest of its life.
Soon after, neighbors from the nearby village visited, offering their condolences and said, “What a shame. Now your only horse is gone. How unfortunate you are! You must be very sad. How will you live, work the land, and prosper?” The farmer replied: “Who could say? We shall see.”
Two days later the old horse came back rejuvenated after meandering in the mountainside while eating the wild grasses. Returning with him were twelve new and healthy horses which followed the old horse into the corral.
Word got out in the village of the farmer’s good fortune and it wasn’t long before people stopped by to congratulate him on his good luck. “How fortunate you are!” they exclaimed. You must be very happy!” The farmer softly said, “Who could say? We shall see.”
At daybreak on the next morning, the farmer’s only son set off to attempt to train the new wild horses, but the farmer’s son was thrown to the ground and broke his leg. One by one the villagers arrived to bemoan the farmer’s latest misfortune. “Oh, what a tragedy you have had! Your son won’t be able to help you farm with a broken leg. You’ll have to do all the work yourself. How will you survive? You must be very sad,” they said. Calmly going about his usual business the farmer answered, “Who could say? We shall see.”
Several days later a war broke out. The Emperor’s men arrived in the village demanding that young men come with them to be conscripted into the Emperor’s army. As it happened the farmer’s son was deemed unfit because of his broken leg. “What very good fortune you have!!” the villagers exclaimed as their own young sons were marched away. “You must be very happy.” “Who could say? We shall see.” replied the farmer as he headed off to work his field alone.
As time went on the broken leg healed but the son was left with a slight limp. Again the neighbors came to pay their condolences. “Oh what bad luck you have; too bad for you!” But the farmer replied simply, “Who could say? We shall see.”
As it turned out the other young village boys died in the war and the farmer and his son were the only able bodied men capable of working the village lands. The farmer became wealthy and was very generous to the villagers. They said: “Oh how fortunate we are; you must be very happy” to which the farmer softly calmly said, “Who could say? We shall see.”
This fable has been important to me for many years. It has been especially helpful since the Women’s Justice Marches. Here are a few bad news/good news examples:
· The news of Hillary’s loss was so painful to me and millions of her supporters — such bad news. A little over two months later, 600,000 women, men, and children marched for social justice in Washington DC. More than 300 sister marches across the country and world joined that day for human dignity, equality and integrity. Well over three million people walked for decency — good news indeed.
· A day later Trump began signing Executive Orders which to date include building the wall between the U.S. and Mexico; reviving the Keystone pipeline and Dakota Access pipelines; reinstating the “Mexico City Policy” banning federal funds to international groups that perform abortions; U.S. withdrawal from the Trans-Pacifica trade deal; instructions to all agencies to begin curbing Obamacare; and a gag order on all Federal Agency external communications — all really really bad news. Immediately citizens began to voice their rage. Those passionate about the planet began efforts to organize a rally to take place April 29 nationwide to protest the climate actions. In fact several scientists said they were going to run for office in 2018. Members of Congress are being deluged with calls, emails and postcards from their constituents who are furious with Trump and demanding their elected officials push back on these orders. Rogue federal worker launched unofficial Twitter feeds to sidestep Trump’s gag order. One person tweeted, “You can take our official twitter, but you’ll never take our free time! — very good news!
· Trump says he will reinstate torture and waterboarding — not bad news but terrible news. Immediately Senator John McCain spoke out in criticism stating bluntly torture and water boarding were against the law. Other Republicans voiced the same criticism of Trump’s comments. Good news is that some Republicans were beginning to push back against Trump.
· Kelly Conway announced Trump will not release his tax returns because no one is interested. This is bad news for those of us that believe he is neither a billionaire as he so proudly boasts nor more importantly that his business dealings abroad do not pose conflicts of interest. The good news is that a petition on the White House web site asking Trump to release his tax returns has received 368,000 signatures — more signatures than any other petition in the system’ five year history. Outstanding news is that the ACLU has taken up this cause and filed requests for a number of Trump’s business documents including his tax returns under the Freedom of Information Act.
Even as I am writing this I feel like the villagers and the farmer in the fable. Their tale is set in a time of uncertainty as is ours. They are dealing with day to day life in their fields as well as war waged by their leader. So too are we going about the daily tasks of life while some of us feel besieged by a war energy coming from the White House.
My internal villager parts are fickle and emotional and swing high and low with the change of a hat. They want to wring their hands or throw themselves onto the ground when they read something foolish or dangerous that Trump has done. Then they want to clap with delight and jump up and down when a good news story flits across my awareness. Honestly I feel exhausted by the roller coaster ride of these parts.
Yet when I can find a moment to be silent, to pray, to meditate, to center myself, I am able to access the energy and equanimity of the farmer inside of me. That aspect is the wise self/God Spark/Higher Power energy that is kind, generous, curious and fully present in the moment. The word equanimity feels so powerful — that Zen farmer had equanimity. Regardless of what was swirling around him he was composed, poised, calm and level-headed. He also moved into action whether it was to let his old horse go, tend his new herd, farm the fields, care for his son, or help his neighbors after their children die. His was not an easy life; in fact, he lived on the edge. Still he did it all with equanimity and curiosity — he did not judge anything as good or bad — he simply was in the moment and in that moment of calm knew what next step to take.
I am not the only one with villager and farmer parts. I see lots of people all around me: clients, friends, news people, and folks on Facebook — perhaps all of us. We are gnashing our teeth one moment then dancing a happy dance the next only to begin keening once again all based on the latest news. Is it any wonder people feel exhausted and confused?
So what is our answer, or actually what is my answer? I guess I need to go back to the wisdom of our spiritual masters; when that villager energy floods me silence is the refuge I need to seek. Quiet and focusing on the breath for even five minutes brings Zen farmer energy. A knowing that what seems bad may actually be a blessing; to appreciate the blessing for as long as it lasts; that when bad happens again, as it will in life, to be curious and patient — to have poise and composure and see what comes next. Who could say? We shall see.
