My favorite fable
2009-02-28
A farmer had only one horse. One day, his horse ran away.
All the neighbors came by saying, “I'm so sorry. This is such bad news. You must be so upset.” The man just said, “We'll see.”
A few days later, his horse came back with twenty wild horses. The man and his son corraled all 21 horses.
All the neighbors came by saying, “Congratulations! This is such good news. You must be so happy!” The man just said, “We'll see.”
One of the wild horses kicked the man's only son, breaking both his legs.
All the neighbors came by saying, “I'm so sorry. This is such bad news. You must be so upset.” The man just said, “We'll see.”
The country went to war, and every able-bodied young man was drafted to fight. The war was terrible and killed every young man, but the farmer's son was spared, since his broken legs prevented him from being drafted.
All the neighbors came by saying, “Congratulations! This is such good news. You must be so happy!” The man just said, “We'll see.”
I wrote a song with this story, too.
Great story. Haven't read it before. Still thinking about it. There is so much in it. Looking back in my life, there have been many things that I didn't like when they happened. Years later I was happy that they happened, because they helped me to become the person I'm now.
Greetings;
Peter
I actually read a version of this in a children's book ("Zen Shorts"): http://www.amazon.com/Zen-Shorts-Caldecott-Honor-Book/dp/0439339111
I'm not sure what to make of this story. Of course, you shouldn't let yourself be knocked down when something bad happens... but can't a guy enjoy his good fortunes? The man comes across as a little indifferent to me ;)
@ Jim:
Good things can happen, bad things can happen. The polarity is that the good is born out of the bad, the bad out of the good. When you can live, you will die. When you have, you can loose. When you don't have you can gain.
It is perfectly okay to enjoy the good times, but trying to keep them forever gets us in trouble with life itself.
That is why many spiritual and religious schools suggest to stay centered in the ups and downs of faith. Clinging to one side of the polarity seem to create the most suffering.
We'll see.
Hey, cool song, Derek! Thought your tracks & groove & feel really captured the essence of the fable, as well as your lyric and melody ... kind of a suspended thing, "still too soon to tell."
Good to hear some of YOUR music!!
This story keeps popping up! I read it years ago in some Native American literature and lately it seems to be everywhere. I'm seeing it here and I saw it the other night again as I was watching "Charlie Wilson's War". In that story it was referred by the character Gust Avrakotos as a Zen parable. Now that I think of it this is the kind of story that thrives on the edges of life experiences as it opens us up to the unknown. It asks us not to be too quick to judge. Let the possibilities arrive in their own time and in their own guise. Reason does not matter. It is always too soon to tell.
Thanks, Derek.
I love the song! The singing guru! Really nice.
I read this today as I was pondering the fate of a particular situation. Its funny how answers to our questions are delivered, if we remain open. . . we'll see.
Dig the palma on your song. (Thank you Larry for your definition of hand claps).
I think the point of the fable is that any kind of judgement of a stuation is actually a distraction from living in the moment.
Without judgement every moment can be celebrated.
That's easier said than done though!
Great vocals in your song, Derek!
Thanks. Similar to http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/This_too_shall_pass
ps: Consider installing http://txfx.net/code/wordpress/subscribe-to-comments/
Love the story, as well as the cool chord changes in the song. Great to hear your music again!
This great story is also used by David Foster Wallace in his piece on writing fiction, titled "The Nature of the Fun". This is recommended reading for any creative person: http://www.badgerinternet.com/~bobkat/naturefun.html
Curses and Blessings wear the same masks,fate's scale has an unpredictable balance.
I love how your song is sung with perfect tones of conviction.
Thank goodness that we each only get part of the puzzle. Makes for fertile ground for relationships and valuing curiosity. It seems that coming to this pleasure planet entails knowing partially and discovering that we can enjoy life completely independent of circumstances. I used my own version of the story above in one of my books. What a treat.
Hey Derek,
Love this fable.. I think I first read it in a book called "The Way of the Peaceful Warrior" By Dan Millman.. Have you ever read it? I was at a very low point about 5 years ago, I read that book and it changed my life.
Oh yeah! I did read that. Maybe that's where I first heard it. Stuck with me ever since. Thanks for the reminder.
Derek,
I really wanted to hear the song but when I clicked on the link it didn't work for me. Is there another place I can go to hear it?
Good fable by the way.
nevermind. . .i couldn't wait so i found it here: http://sivers.org/music
Good to hear one of your own songs, I usually only read your marketing ideas.
Thank you for the download of this new tune of yours, Derek. I'm on my second listen as I write...Great story to base a song on. The hook of your melody is a perfect match for the concept... "we'll see" ...in your treatment..."still too soon to tell...." (very nice job with that.)
...your melody follows the mood of the words...(gently stepping down) Well, I will surely enjoy this tune again. Great post...I love multi-media in blogs!
I love this story.
I first heard it from Alan Watts: http://www.conures.net/stories/horse.shtml
weird that i ran into it here, as I surfed on over from rick allens twitter and he worked at kpfk which is where i first discovered alan watts 20 years ago or so (thanks roy of hollywood!).
i love coincidences like this
I also heard of this story from Eckhart Tolle's a New Earth.
Derek - keep it up. I love what you're doing for indie artists.
I am dealing with something akin to the fable. My job is at an old building and i think its making me really sick. I am scared and dont know what will happen if i quit due to this problem. But who knows, it could be the best thing that ever happened to me. I trust in my destiny.
Life-true parable indeed...it's describing the relativity and temporarity of everything. A limpid minded person - buddhist or not - would notice everything what's happening around him without getting troubled on the inside. Life is like walking on the edge of a knife - within this consciousness.
Thanks for your music Derek.
Nice melody and translation of the fable..but maybe it's still too soon...
I have always said that when things happen that seem bad, they happened for a reason. The part to remember is that you don't know when...but sooner or later, you will discover the reason for it! My quote that I tell everyone I want on the urn of my ashes is, "Sooner or later, the world will come around to my way of thinking". Obviously, a bit of humor on the fact that I don't know everything...or for that matter...anything! Take care Derek. You inspire me, because you inspire so many...
hey derek,
Never heard this one... like it... makes you stop and think. Which is good sometimes... my grandfather had some good stories. Should have remembered more of them, but long hair & impatience are part of youth... Keep up the good work. Mr. Music Dude. I read all your stuff and keeps my inspired.........dv
That fable is so helpful for remaining grounded in the ups and downs in life. It reminds me of another Zen fable I was told; I can only paraphrase it. In essence, an older man in a village was falsely accused by a young unmarried pregnant woman that he was the father of her child. He lost much of his business because of the scandal. When the woman had her child, she could not support the baby and demanded he raise it. The man said "Very well, so be it" and took the baby in. Three years later the man who was the real father of the child came back to the village and made up with the woman. They then demanded that the child be returned to them because he wasn't the biological father. The older man said "Very well, so be it" and gave custody back to the couple. It is hard for me to imagine myself having the open-mindedness to accept life events without argument such as this man did. What a role model, as is the farmer in your fable!
Reminds me my favorite:
"My barn having burned to the ground, I can now see the moon."
Damn, that song has a amazingly sick groove. Great guitar playing.
Kept me going from beginning to end.
This one and Stone Soup and you're set for life.
A wise old master and several of his acolytes were meditating on the bank of a river when the bloodcurdling sound of a child screaming pierced the stillness. The old master opened his eyes, but did not move to rescue the drowning child. Just as the youngster stopped flailing and began to slip beneath the surface, one of the acolytes jumped into the river and pulled the child to safety. Unable to control his emotions, he yelled at the old master for doing nothing to save the drowning child. The old master calmly replied, “That child may grow up to be a genocidal tyrant. You may have the blood of millions on your hands.” “Yeah right, asshole,” replied the acolyte, “we’ll see. We’ll see.”
at least his neighbours cared enough to visit him...or was it the media?
Reminds me of Sam the Sham's "That's bad, No That's Good." Although a slightly wiser, more moral version. ;)
You have some inspiring words on your website. It's appreciated.
I heard this story, based on a true event, on the radio.
In the last days of WW II, a group of German soldiers were fleeing the Russians. They came on a bunch of abandoned bicycles. All of them, except one, got on the bicycles and rode away.
The one left behind couldn't ride a bicycle, and he didn't want to slow anyone down. It turned out his mother hadn't allowed him to learn how to ride a bike when he was a child. She was afraid he'd hurt himself. The soldier thought to himself, "Oh, great. Because my mother was afraid that I'd hurt myself, I'm going to get killed. I'll never survive alone."
But the soldiers who rode away were ambushed and they all died, and the soldier who was left behind was captured and survived the war.
I knew the story which is your best story.... I love the song you created with it... 'still too soon to tell'....can i have permission to use it during my workshops or talks? Love/ Elisabetta....u can search for me on Facebook..
Of course! Use it. Enjoy. Thanks! -- Derek
There was once a great tea master who serviced all that came to the kingdom. They were sought after for their grace, their dedication and service to others in the simple act of pouring tea. As it happened the tea master was requested to visit another kingdom, and being so obligated to their service, they went. Upon travelling the road between kingdoms the tea master was stopped by a warrior who when seeing the tea master said " Unless you can defeat me you shall not pass" Where upon the team master knowing they were not a warrior returned to their home unsettled, not because they were faced with an opponent, but because they could preform the service they had dedicated themselves to.
Seeking advice the tea master approached a local place of worship and sough out council on the matter where they was given to them the instruction that if in the art of tea you they were a master so should you be able to apply them to the sword.
The tea master reflecting on this began at once to study in the arts of the sword, the finery of combat, and the essence of war. Applying as they did all that was suggested that made them a master of tea.
There upon the tea master believing they had trained enough returned once again to the road and sure enough came to face the warrior who said as they had before.
" unless you can defeat me you shall not pass"
The tea master knowing they were going to be required to preform combat place their hand on the hilt of the sword and began to withdraw the razor sharp blade when they heard they warrior say " I see cannot defeat you" and let the tea master pass.
For in the battles of life it is not how we destroy our enemies but rather how we arm our being that shows what we will add or take from the cup of life we pour into the world around us.
This fable is a story of previous China.
塞翁失马,焉知非福。
Where's the 'like' button to your articles, Derek?
This one, everyone should be able to read.
Wow, this story just made my afternoon.. And the song made my month
! Thanks & keep up the good work 
.
It's me again, with a question this time. Do you have a list of MP3 that are freely available to download ? I Really liked your song..When I googled for "filetype:mp3 site:sivers.org" it didn't returned any results. Thanks
sivers.org/music (it's linked from my ABOUT page) -- Derek
Thanks
!
Wow. We're brothers. This is one of my favorite stories to share. Looking forward to meeting you someday.
Bryan
great song Derek !
Thank you for this,
Good way to start my day.
Deep Thoughts.
Deb
I love this story too.
A wise friend of mine has his own version of "We'll see."
He frequently says, "Well, isn't that interesting..."
Thank you for the story and song - loved both. Julia
Great to hear a positive song with no pretensions. In this time of instant gratification that story takes the pressure off. Keep putting your personal effort into whatever you're drawn to do, then let go of it and see what happens. Inspiring stuff.
Derek,
You are Unbelievable! Many seek the wisdom, you seem to have mastered through simplicity... WOW!
Dear Derek,
A question came to my mind:
With an "we´ll see" attitude -
can that man ever be truly happy?
Your wife just said, that she loves you. And the response is the "we´ll see".
Kind regards,
Anders
We sold a yearling colt to a couple. Two weeks later the wife called to tell us the colt had kicked her husband and broke his leg all the way through. As my husband started to apologise and tell her the colt had never offered to kick while we had him she broke in and said "No...I'm not calling to complain..I'm calling to tell you thank you for selling us that colt. When we got him to the hospital with the broken leg they had to do surgery. While they were in there they found cancer. At this point it looks like they got it all though he will have to take chemo and have therapy. If he hadn't been kicked we would never have known about the cancer until it was too late. Thank you! Oh...and we are naming him 'Lucky Break'."
Lannie Joe is cancer free and still breaking horses ten years later. There is a reason for everything!
I have heard this fable a few times. All recently. There is clearly no mistake in me stumbling upon it here as well. Thanks.
Tom Siegel
always the observer always to see what is next and to celebrate what is now. Enlightenment? Joy? Simply to be in the experience to be actively engaged in the observation of it.
I love the stories that really make you think after you walk away from your computer. Then you have a conversation about it later with a friend. I'll have to reply later with my thoughts on this one.
As I recall, Anthony de Mello had a version I liked where the farmer's simple response each time was, "Who can say what is good and what is bad?"
Thanks for sharing, Derek.
Nice! I like that version. Thanks. -- Derek
Great story, great song! Thanks!
I heard it way back, in a 12-Step meeting, and didnt know where it came from: So, big thanks to you, Derek and then Joe, I now have the Alan Watts version.
Some seem to think this tale has to do with indifference, but no! It's about unattachment - very different. I think of it as living in the eye of the paradox. As it were! Sort of thing....
I like your song Derek,cool interpretation -nice melody supported by good singing,catchy rhythm and a really groovy bassline..Stay tuned.
there is a chinese saying for this
赛翁失马 焉知非福
sài wēng shī mǎ，yān zhī fēi fú
Derek --
I am believing we are kindred spirits. I am just leaving the corporate world of 40 years and finding - well there is a great LIFE after corporate America. A life that I am never going back to - never ever. So now I am just doing good for people and making dreams become a reality for people who like to dream and Think Big! So whatever the LORD provides me I am just giving it away as it is all His anyway. The great philosopher "James Dean" once said:
"Dream as if you'll live forever, live as if you'll die today".
(maybe a new song for you!)
Saw this on a bathroom wall recently.
So that is how I am living today and it would seem like you are too. Hence - kindred spirits. We will meet one day I am sure - till then - rock the world!
God bless --
Hez Wood
Very nice ... I think you would like the story I call ... "For want of a Nail" ... Sorry for no reference, as I have yet to look it up. The story was told to a kid in a movie "Tokyo Drift"
Godspeed !
This is an old Chinese fable that kids in Korea learn at school as the background legend of the 4-syllable adage that the general people often quote in everyday life. It is "塞翁之馬" (if readable) literally meaning "An old man living in a frontier." Kids learn the background story behind this almost titular 4-letter adage and the grownups quote it when needed.
Nice fable, Derek! Reminds me of a wonderful quote attributed to Zhou Enlai (Chinese foreign minister under Mao). When asked for his view on the impact of the French Revolution, he supposedly thought for a moment then replied "Too soon to tell".
It's from a Chinese proverb: 塞翁失马，焉知非福。 What it generally translates to is: a setback may not necessarily be disastrous and could have a silver lining while a good fortune may not necessarily be all-benefitting.
Great reminder that we should never assume we know what lies ahead as the result of our decisions and actions, but rather do what we determine best and "wait to see" the results and then keep moving along. Thx for sharing your story and this tale.
I read this proverb translated a different way. Instead of "We'll see," the man said, "Who is to say whether it's good or bad." I think the lon
It's one of my favorites, and I recall it often in times of good fortune or hardship. Our myopic view of any event makes it difficult to understand what is ultimately good or bad. Apparent misfortune is not always what it appears to be.
This is great fable, and maxim for life, similar to the teachings of Napoleon Hill. There is always a silver lining, you should always try to see or feel or garner something good from something bad.
And the song is sweet too.
I love the fable and your song Derek! Thank you!
this fable is from China IN Chinese: 塞翁失马，焉知非福～
Im not really sure how to take this... Is the moral of the story to be pessimistic because you never know what could happen? What kind of life is that? I do get the point though
I believe you are right about this fable being told, with different variations, for probably a thousand years or more.
In fact, I think it spawned the phrase: "There is no good or evil, but thought makes it so."
...perhaps only the Elders of Tralfamadore know for sure.
Btw Derek, does that mean that Peter Blue is your "First Follower"?
Way to go Peter!
Awesome story, Thanks for sharing.
ha! came over from the homepage, where you said it was your favorite fable--knew it!! it's my favorite too. Served me well in keeping myself grounded. good stuff.
This is my favorite fable too...COOL! *smile*
I first read it in a book about Buddhism, in the chapter about Buddhist philosophies, one of which is never to judge anything as "bad" or "good" too quickly. Doing this requires you to respond to everything around you equally with BOTH your heart AND your mind. Many of us learn this as we age, but often begin, as toddlers, reflexively responding out of pure emotions of joy, anger, sadness, etc..
The version I am familiar with has it:
"Maybe so. Maybe not."
Nice read, good for motivating people in distress.
This is a really old fable, emphasizes what was considered in the old traditions (Zen, Hindu...) as one of the chief goals of a person: maintaining equanimity.
Feedback loops! can't live with them, can't live without them.
L.S.
As far as i know this story originates from Jodhpur / Rajasthan / India. The Dutch filmmaker Sander Francken directed 3 musical feature films "Bardsongs". At the basis of these films are three folk tales from respectively Rajasthan, Western Africa and Ladakh, put to music by musical celebrities from those regions and interpreted by local actors who knew these tales from their youth. The film focuses on the similarities between three totally different worlds.
Part one of BARDSONGS "The Plastic Collector" tells the story of a father and his son. On a daily basis they collect waste plastic in the streets of an old Indian city. The father distinguishes himself from other people by never judging occurrences around him – however much fate temps him to. His posture meets with a lot of incomprehension and annoyance by people around him. When a dramatic occurrence reveals its true significance after some time, the wisdom of the plastic collector is unveiled for everyone. The original story is about a garbage collector but this was turned into plastic collector on advice of Sakar Kahn & Family, the famous Rajasthani singers and instrument players that you can see and hear in this beautiful film. Unfortunately the subtitles are Dutch
With kind regards,
Erik.
L.S.
Hereby the link to "The Plastic Collector".
http://player.omroep.nl/?aflID=12258056
With kind regards,
Erik.
The story gives us a lesson...We should all have trust in God as what he does he does with a reason.
Joe Crookston did the same:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZYCpeiDaviY
I really like the fable. It's a noble concept to not get too high or too low...very difficult to execute but I admire the attempt.
Here is another song version of this story
http://soundclick.com/share.cfm?id=10177728
Good Luck, Bad Luck
A farmer had an old horse; an old horse to till his fields
But one day, that old horse escaped and ran to the hills
While the neighbors thought this was very bad luck
The farmer only replied
Chorus
Good luck, bad luck
Who is that wise?
Could misfortune be good and good fortune be bad; just in disguise?
Who is that wise to know?
Who is that wise to know?
After a week that old horse returned the neighbors excited and thrilled
For he brought with him a herd of wild horses down from the hills
While the neighbors thought this was very good luck
The farmer only replied
chorus
The farmer's son was doing his best to tame one wild horse
He fell off its back and hit the ground hard; his leg broke from the force
While everyone thought this was very bad luck
The farmer only replied
chorus
Later the army marched into the village and took all the young men away
But the farmer's son with his broken leg was allowed to stay
So what, what would you say?
What, what would you say?
chorus
塞翁失马, 焉知非福。It's a old Chinese fable, and this the Chinese version for this story.
wow, great song. your voice makes me think of Simply Red, but it's way less artificial, at least to my ear. thanks for sharing both the story and the music!
there is only our perspective, as i taught my kids, life is to experiance, so go out and live it. good or bad are only our judgements.
let go and be free.
Fascinating fable. I didn't know what to think of it immediately after I read it and I still have to admit, I am still thinking about its meaning.
thank you, you are an inspiration. Ma first time hearing this fable was when i was ten during ma weekend Chinese school told by my principal. This fable always come to ma mind whenever there are changes in ma life. Thank you again for leading by example.
Thanks Derek,
I'm looking forward to sharing this with my kids tonight when I get home.
Great perspective.
The most wonderful thing about fables is that it makes people think, and this one certainly does that as you can see from the comments.
Early on Jim Offerman left a comment 'wondering if a guy can't enjoy his good fortunes?' I expect a farmer with such awareness of life would be enjoying life in all it's displays.
Here's an alternative response to think about for the farmer:
"Yes, it appears so," the farmer said with a chuckle... in the face of a both the good and bad news.
I like the concept that nothing is ever bad (or good?) as it seems.
Thanks Derek.
There is a lot to learn from the story - Everything happens with good and bad, passage of time proves it.
a good reminder to "see"
after hearing this story in Charlie Wilson's War, i'm reading this here.. but a story that has stayed with me in my tough times.. very useful in application..