KOAN PARABLE AND PROVERB
KOAN, PARABLE, AND PROVERB GOOD LUCK OR BAD LUCK? (Zen koan) Once upon the time there was an old farmer who had worked his crops for many years. One day his horse ran away. Upon hearing the news, his neighbors came to visit. “Such bad luck,” they said sympathetically. “Perhaps,” the farmer replied. The next morning the horse returned, bringing with it three other wild horses. “What great luck!” the neighbors exclaimed. “Perhaps,” replied the old man. The following day, his son tried to ride one of the untamed horses, was thrown, and broke his leg. The neighbors again came to offer their sympathy on his misfortune. “Perhaps,” answered the farmer. The day after, military officials came to the village to draft young men into the army. Seeing that the son’s leg was broken, they passed him by. The neighbors congratulated the farmer on how well things had turned out. “Perhaps,” said the farmer... I'D RATHER BE A HAPPY TURTLE (Chinese parable) Zhuang Zi was a brilliant philosopher and strategist who lived in ancient China. His abilities were many and several rulers sought his services. One of them, King Wei, sent his courtiers out to Zhuang Zi's pastoral home to invite him to come to Wei's court and be the leader's chief counselor. They found him there fishing by the river bank. Seeing his poor situation, they thought Zhuang Zi would jump at the chance for status and reward. Yet when they made their
proposal to him, he said, "Once upon a time there was a sacred turtle, which was happy living his life in the mud. Yet, because he was sacred, the king's men found him, took him to the royal palace, killed him and used his shell to foresee the future. Now tell me, would that turtle prefer to have given up his life to be honored at the palace, or would he rather be alive and enjoying himself in the mud?" The courtiers responded that, of course, the turtle would be happier in the mud. To which Zhuang Zi replied, "And so you have my answer. Go home and let me be a happy turtle here in the mud." THE KING AND THE PAWN (Italian Proverb) At the end of the game, the king and the pawn go back in the same box.