In our Clayton Yoga Teacher Trainings, we often ask students to bring a fable or story with a deeper meaning to class. We also periodically post and share especially good fables here. This short fable is from a very ancient Chinese author, Liu A.
Teachings of this nature remind us to treasure our divinity in both the good and in the bad times.
A man who lived on the northern frontier of China was skilled in interpreting events. One day, for no reason, his horse ran away to the nomads across the border. Everyone tried to console him, but his father said, “What makes you so sure this isn’t a blessing?”
Some months later, his horse returned/bringing a splendid nomad stallion. Everyone congratulated him, but his father said, “What makes you so sure this isn’t a disaster?”
Their household was richer by a fine horse, which the son loved to ride. One day, he fell and broke his hip. Everyone tried to console him, but his father said, “What makes you so sure this isn’t a blessing?”
A year later the nomads came in force across the border, and every able-bodied man took his bow and went into battle. The Chinese frontiersmen lost nine of every ten men. Only because the son was lame, did father and son survive to take care of each other.
Truly, blessing turns to disaster, and disaster to blessing, the changes have no end, nor can the mystery be fathomed.
In this story, we are reminded that setbacks can often become a blessing, especially if we do not go with the opinion of the crowd, and blessings itself are something to take in stride, as life is very often a long, arduous and difficult climb.
Practicing yoga is a wonderful way to recognize that there is so much that happens even in the course of one single day, both good and bad, things that are very often beyond our control and that it is okay to still continue climbing with a glad heart and a courageous mind.
Namaste!
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