One of my clients operates a chain of resorts in South India. Last week, I did a mastermind session for their top management team at Kodaikanal as part of their yearly kick-off.
After the session, I stayed in a Zen monastery for four days to reboot. (pictures at the end of the blog)
During a session there, Our Zen master, Siril told a powerful story that I thought of sharing with you for inspiration.
You might have already heard this story.
It is about an old Chinese farmer who lived many years ago.
He had one old horse that he used to plough his fields.
One day, the horse ran away into the hills.
Everyone said, “We are so sorry for your bad luck.”
The old man replied, “Bad luck, good luck, who knows?”
A week later, the horse returned with a herd of wild horses, which now belonged to the old man.
Everyone said, “We are so happy for your good luck!”
The old man replied, “Good luck, bad luck, who knows?”
While his only son was riding one of the wild horses, he fell off and broke his leg.
Everyone said, “What bad luck!”
The old man replied, “Bad luck, good luck, who knows?”
One day, the army came to the village, and took all the strong young men to be soldiers for the emperor.
Only the old farmer’s son was spared, because he could not fight with a broken leg.
Everyone said, “What good luck!”
The old man replied, “Good luck, bad luck, who knows?”
—-
We constantly try to frame the situation in life and business as good or bad.
That’s because of the dual nature of our mind.
However, things don’t work that way.
Things that we thought as bad end up being good.
And things that we thought as good end up being bad.
It is not the situation but the dual nature of our mind that baffles us.
This story also exposes the impermanent nature of things.
An advantage or disadvantage cannot stay long.
Technologies and trends tend to become obsolete.
New things arise again.
Market leadership positions change.
Everything begins, grows and ends.
Nothing lasts forever in its current state.
If we understand this Universal Truth, we will stop framing things as good or bad.
We will have equanimity while handling situations.
Next time, when our mind frames a situation, how about we ask, good luck or bad luck who knows?
(Some pictures taken inside the Zen monastery where I stayed)
