Good, Bad, Who knows...
I was recently told a story from an amazing yoga instructor that was simply labeled as "Good, Bad, Who Knows". The story was interesting and in many ways could be applied in so many ways and perspectives. Since I was told the story I have put much thought into the simplicity of the words.
The story:
An old Zen story goes like this: An old Chinese farmer had a
mare that broke through the fence and ran away. When his neighbors learned of
it, they came to the farmer and said, "What bad luck this is. You don't
have a horse during planting season." The farmer listened and then
replied, "Bad luck, good luck. Who knows?"
A few days later, the mare returned with two stallions. When
the neighbors learned of it, they visited the farmer. "You are now a rich
man. What good fortune this is," they said. The farmer listened and again
replied, "Good fortune, bad fortune. Who knows?"
Later that day, the farmer's only son was thrown from one of
the stallions and broke his leg. When the neighbors heard about it, they came
to the farmer. "It is planting season and now there is no one to help
you," they said. "This is truly bad luck." The farmer listened,
and once more he said, "Bad luck, good luck. Who knows?"
The very next day, the emperor's army rode into the town and
conscripted the eldest son in every family. Only the farmer's son with his
broken leg remained behind. Soon the neighbors arrived. Tearfully, they said,
"Yours is the only son who was not taken from his family and sent to war.
What good fortune this is..."
The story is told as a perspective of how one would look at their day or event in life. Many of us may project either consciously or subconsciously feelings towards the future or outcome and even sometimes identify with a certain emotion. Wanting to make something good, or maybe have self doubt and thinking that something is going to turn out terrible and at times having just the simple thought of uncertainty of "who knows"....
Life has a natural rhythm of ebb and flow, yin and yang, good and bad. Even within life there is a natural rhythm that can be broken down to years, days, hours and minutes. Within this rhythm there is life and death, this can also parallel the same definition of ebb and flow, yin and yang, good and bad. Life is good, death is bad...you understand where I am going with this.
To sustain a natural flow of life, a balance is necessary. To have good you must have bad and vice versa. Nothing is forever, not even life. We all understand that concept. Bad days will have an end, followed by better days and all good things must come to an end at some point as well.
With every breathe there is life and death, consciously you are not aware, but bring attention to your breathe. With every inhale you create life, with every exhale is the death of that present breathe. In order to have life again you must have death. The simple act of breathing is an exercise of this balance that many never think about in their daily lives.
Lets talk about emotions. We feel emotions on a daily basis. Much like a breathe there is a natural ebb and flow of emotions. Emotions are created within us. We bring life to our personal emotions. The key is to allow them to pass or have an end. How can you be happy if you are sad, or sad when you are happy. When you identify with an emotion, you become that emotion. Holding on to that emotion is like holding your breathe. Allowing your emotions to come and go, you will become more present and be able to make the changes in your life to find the balance that works for you.
I recently read a writing from Dylan Werner about such a concept that I feel ties into this story. "We know that we are not our emotions, and there is no need to identify with them. We feel our emotions as temporary conditions that come and go. "I feel happy", but if you think that you are happy, then when you don't feel happy, you wont feel like you. It's best not to identify with even the positive emotions but to be aware that all emotions, good and bad, come and go, and the essence of you remains."
What I took away from this story on a personal level was to live a life in the present moment. There is nothing I or anyone can do to change what has happen in the past and I have no idea what will happen to me or what I will feel in the future, so why worry about it. I find peace focusing on the present moment. Putting all my love, thoughts and energy into what is now.
I allow myself to feel the good and bad of each passing moment, second, minute, hour, day, year. I hold no attachment to feelings or emotions and allow myself to feel whatever is happening at this present moment, This is life, this is balance, this is just this.
I made a statement earlier in this writing. "Nothing is forever, not even life". As you read that you are aware of the concept, but knowing that this is true in your heart, ask yourself what else is true in your heart. What are you willing to change to accept to allow to happen in your lifetime, your year, your day, your moment.
Take each moment as it is Good, Bad, Who Knows....
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