Good, Bad, We Shall See

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Lovely ones,
I love a good children’s book, teaching story, parable, or even a challenging Zen Koan to meditate upon. As humans, we possess the ability to interpret every word, feeling, interaction, piece of art, book, etc. We are meaning making machines which can serve us well in many ways, yet also can cause all sorts of struggle & unnecessary trouble. The meaning we make is everything; it sets the tone for how we think, act and feel in any given situation. A human tendency is to rush toward judgement when something happens to us or someone we love. Often it is with the best of intentions, yet it can cause unnecessary anxiety or stress.
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The following Chinese proverb is one of my favorite teaching stories titled “Maybe so. Maybe Not. We will see.” It offers a unique perspective from which I believe we can all take a valuable lesson.

A story

“A farmer and his son had a beloved stallion who helped the family earn a living. One day, the horse ran away and their neighbors exclaimed, “Your horse ran away, what terrible luck!” The farmer replied, “Maybe so, maybe not. We’ll see.”

A few days later, the horse returned home, leading a few wild mares back to the farm as well. The neighbors shouted out, “Your horse has returned, and brought several horses home with him. What great luck!” The farmer replied, “Maybe so, maybe not. We’ll see.”

Later that week, the farmer’s son was trying to break one of the mares and she threw him to the ground, breaking his leg. The villagers cried, “Your son broke his leg, what terrible luck!” The farmer replied, “Maybe so, maybe not. We’ll see.”
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A few weeks later, soldiers from the national army marched through town, recruiting all the able-bodied boys for the army. They did not take the farmer’s son, still recovering from his injury. Friends shouted, “Your boy is spared, what tremendous luck!” To which the farmer replied, “Maybe so, maybe not. We’ll see.”

What can you take away? 

What’s the moral of the story? I believe it to be that no event should be judged as good fortune or bad fortune, for only time can tell. What is there to do? Release attachment to the outcome of any situation; this will reduce suffering. Reserve judgment while staying open and curious as to what’s next; this will ease anxiety. Taking life as it comes, without judgement or attachment, offers us a greater sense of emotional freedom. Thus we can live without really ever knowing for sure whether we’re lucky or unlucky in any given situation; we are simply present to each moment as it comes, ready to embrace what life has in store for us and those we love.
This week we welcome team teacher Monica Reyna. Enjoy the practice, like, share & comment. Let's spread the 'feel better do good' message to all we can. The world needs us and what we offer now, more than ever.
Keep loving & living fully,
Dana

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Upcoming Events

Embody's Weekly Global Practice with Dana Christian Lee
Wednesday, April 14, 2021
3:30pm PT | 6:30pm ET

Embody's Weekly Global Practice with Team Teacher Jill Fox
Wednesday, April 21, 2021
3:30pm PT | 6:30pm ET

Embody's Weekly Global Practice with Team Teacher Monica Reyna
Wednesday, April 28, 2021
3:30pm PT | 6:30pm ET

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