Story To Reflect

Upon 7
The Farmer’s Horse
There is a story of a farmer whose horse ran away. That evening
the neighbors gathered to console him since this was such bad
luck. He said, "May be."
The next day the horse returned, but brought with it six wild
horses, and the neighbors came exclaiming at his good fortune.
He said, "May be."
And then, the following day, his son tried to saddle and ride one
of the wild horses; he was thrown, and broke his leg. Again the
neighbors came to offer their sympathy for the misfortune. He
said, "May be."
The day after that, conscription officers came to the village to
seize young men for the army, but because of the broken leg the
farmer's son was rejected. When the neighbors came to say how
fortunately everything had turned out, he said, "May be."
Reflection
* None is free from the eight worldly conditions of 'Pleasure and
Pain', 'Gain and Loss', 'Praise and Blame' and 'Honor and
Dishonor'. Reflecting on this Truth of Samsaric existence, one
learns to
1. be more calm and accepting of the things that befalls him.
2. develop a mental state of equanimity or tranquility. The mental
state will become more peaceful in the face of changing fortunes.
3. see that the only certainty is uncertainty. 'Tragic' things may
become a blessing and vice versa.
4. see that the wisest thing to practice is 'present mindfulness' ...
the past is dead and gone and the future is unknown ...
* Our attitude towards happenings determines to a great extent our
mental happiness and peace.
* Often one's mental state can be more happy, peaceful and free if one's
mind does not attach and cling ... 'Letting it go' or 'letting it be' are mental
attitudes that often help one to be peaceful.
 Story To
Reflect Upon 8
THE FROG
A group of frogs were traveling through the woods, and two of
them fell into a deep pit. When the other frogs saw how deep the
pit was, they told the two frogs that they were as good as dead.
The two frogs ignored the comments and tried to jump up out of
the pit with all their might. The other frogs kept telling them to
stop, that they were as good as dead. Finally, one of the frogs
took heed of what the other frogs were saying and gave up. He
fell down and died. The other frog continued to jump as hard as
he could. Once again, the crowd of frogs yelled at him to stop the
pain and just die. He jumped even harder and finally made it out.
When he got out, the other frogs said, "Did you not hear us?" The
frog explained to them that he was deaf. He thought they were
encouraging him the entire time.
Author Unknown

Lessons From The Story

1. There is power of life and death in the tongue. An
encouraging word to someone who is down can lift them up and
help them make it through the day.
2. A destructive word to someone who is down can be what it
takes to kill them.
Be careful of what you say. Speak life to those who cross your
path. The power of words... it is sometimes hard to understand
that an encouraging word can go such a long way. Anyone can
speak words that tend to rob another of the spirit to continue in
difficult times. Special is the individual who will take the time
to encourage another.