The MAYBE. story

[jadamz]

The Chinese Agriculteur Story



Once upon a time there was a Chinese farmer whose horse ran away. That evening, all of his neighbors came around to commiserate. They said, “We are so sorry to hear your horse has run away. This is most unfortunate.” The farmer said, “Maybe.” The next day the horse came back bringing seven wild horses with it, and in the evening everybody came back and said, “Oh, isn’t that lucky. What a great turn of events. You now have eight horses!” The farmer again said, “Maybe.”The following day his son tried to break one of the horses, and while riding it, he was thrown and broke his leg. The neighbors then said, “Oh dear, that’s too bad,” and the farmer responded, “Maybe.” The next day the conscription officers came around to conscript people into the army, and they rejected his son because he had a broken leg. Again all the neighbors came around and said, “Isn’t that great!” Again, he said, “Maybe.”The whole process of nature is an integrated process of immense complexity, and it’s really impossible to tell whether anything that happens in it is good or bad — because you never know what will be the consequence of the misfortune; or, you never know what will be the consequences of good fortune.— Alan Watts

 

[jadamz]

”The whole process of nature is an integrated process of immense complexity, and it’s really impossible to tell whether anything that happens in it is good or bad — because you never know what will be the consequence of the misfortune; or, you never know what will be the consequences of good fortune.— Alan Watts

 

[jadamz]

”The whole process of nature is an integrated process of immense complexity, and it’s really impossible to tell whether anything that happens in it is good or bad — because you never know what will be the consequence of the misfortune; or, you never know what will be the consequences of good fortune.— Alan Watts

that is deep

 

[Duke]

that is deep

It sounds like a synopsis of the storyline development processes used by the writers of "The Simpson's."

 

[jadamz]

It sounds like a synopsis of the storyline development processes used by the writers of "The Simpson's."

the true Oracles

 

[Lynne]

It is a good story about life itself, deep but simple at the same time. We can only live day to day and appreciate or deal with whatever it brings in the moment. To be grateful in the good times and faithful in the hard times, but if we are still on this side of the grass it is a good "maybe day".

Thank you, Jad, I needed to read this today.

 

[Alchopwn]

The Chinese Agriculteur Story



Once upon a time there was a Chinese farmer whose horse ran away. That evening, all of his neighbors came around to commiserate. They said, “We are so sorry to hear your horse has run away. This is most unfortunate.” The farmer said, “Maybe.” The next day the horse came back bringing seven wild horses with it, and in the evening everybody came back and said, “Oh, isn’t that lucky. What a great turn of events. You now have eight horses!” The farmer again said, “Maybe.”The following day his son tried to break one of the horses, and while riding it, he was thrown and broke his leg. The neighbors then said, “Oh dear, that’s too bad,” and the farmer responded, “Maybe.” The next day the conscription officers came around to conscript people into the army, and they rejected his son because he had a broken leg. Again all the neighbors came around and said, “Isn’t that great!” Again, he said, “Maybe.”The whole process of nature is an integrated process of immense complexity, and it’s really impossible to tell whether anything that happens in it is good or bad — because you never know what will be the consequence of the misfortune; or, you never know what will be the consequences of good fortune.— Alan Watts

That's a great parable Jadamz.

One that I heard goes like this:

Whatever you do, be very VERY careful.
That way nothing very good or very bad will ever happen to you.
In fact not much of anything...

 

[Lynne]

That's a great parable Jadamz.

One that I heard goes like this:

Whatever you do, be very VERY careful.
That way nothing very good or very bad will ever happen to you.
In fact not much of anything...

Oh that's a good one Al, more deep thoughts for today.

 

[jadamz]

Oh that's a good one Al, more deep thoughts for today.

Maybe.....

 

[GoneWestUtah]

This parable is applicable to every leap of faith, or absurdly beneficial coincidence in life.

I love it.

There is a sometimes-hidden mathematics to social concerns, coincidences, "lucky streaks", completely outside the question of freedom-of-the-will vs. Determinism.