The Story of the Taoist Farmer

(Photo credit: Influence versus Control)

A farmer owned a beautiful mare which was praised far and wide. One day this beautiful horse disappeared. The people of his village offered sympathy to the farmer for his great misfortune. The farmer said simply, “That’s the way it is.”

A few days later the lost mare returned, followed by a beautiful wild stallion. The village congratulated the farmer for his good fortune. He said, “That’s the way it is.”

Some time later, farmer’s only son, while riding the stallion, fell off and broke his leg. The village people once again expressed their sympathy at farmer’s misfortune. The farmer again said, “That’s the way it is.”
Soon thereafter, war broke out and all the young men of the village except the farmer’s lame son were drafted and were killed in battle. The village people were amazed at the farmer’s good luck. His son was the only young man left alive in the village. But the farmer kept his same attitude: despite all the turmoil, gains and losses, he gave the same reply, “That’s the way it is.”

My dear readers, do you agree with the connect between Acceptance and Awareness?  

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What is in it for me?

A young, new preacher was walking with an older, more seasoned preacher in the garden one day and feeling a bit insecure about what God had for him to do, he was inquiring of the older preacher.

The older preacher walked up to a rosebush and handed the young preacher a rosebud and told him to open it without tearing off any petals.

 The young preacher looked in disbelief at the older preacher and was trying to figure out what a rosebud could possibly have to do with his wanting to know the ‘Will of God’ for his life and for his ministry. Because of his high respect for the older preacher, he proceeded to TRY to unfold the rose, while keeping every petal intact…It wasn’t long before he realized how it was impossible to do so.

Noticing the younger preacher’s inability to unfold the rosebud while keeping it intact, the older preacher began to tell the following poem…

It is only a tiny rosebud,
A flower of GOD’s design;
But I cannot unfold the petals
With these clumsy hands of mine.
The secret of unfolding flowers
Is not known to such as I.
GOD opens this flower so sweetly,
When in my hands they fade and die.
If I cannot unfold a rosebud,
This flower of GOD’s design,
Then how can I think I have wisdom
To unfold this life of mine?
So I’ll trust in Him for His leading
Each moment of every day.
I will look to Him for His guidance
Each step of the pilgrim way.
The pathway that lies before me,
Only my heavenly Father knows.
I’ll trust Him to unfold the moments,
Just as He unfolds the rose.

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Choice, Destiny & Fate

This moment, here I am, at this time-space juncture specific. Here where I am, is because of the choices I made in past. In other words, my present moment is the result of my past deeds. This is so simple. No rocket science at all.

Here where I am right this moment, I have some choices. These choices are inherent choices to the time-space juncture where I stand as of now. In other words, there are limited choices in this moment. It is like a cross-road. Every moment is like a cross-road. Out of limited choices that I have in this moment, each one will have its own scene to follow. In other words, you make your future. Yes, we make our choices which in turn become our experience of the future.

Lets us take an example of a maze.

This man in this picture is standing at a point. He has come here by following a specific path & here he is at this moment. This experience of present moment is due to the choice he made in the past and eventually reached him here. He likes it or not, it is his choices that have brought him this result. In other words, we can say we get what we deserve based on our deeds.

He has limited choices. It does not matter what choices they are. Any one he will be choosing and that choice is limited within the possibilities. Once he is choosing one, he is writing his future. In other words we can say he is the creator of his future.

This man goes on within the maze, keep making choices, without coming to the exit from the maze.

Then there is someone, who is at the higher level and can see the pattern of the maze. He can see which choices will lead this man to the exit. It is natural that because he can see, he would like to tell the way out of compassion. But will the lost man pay attention? Will he believe in this man and his advice? Will he follow the advice? Will he follow the advice long enough without doubting and not drop in between?

This is the scene, which is common.

What is my choice?

 

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Choices

I was watching this movie and a dialogue came,

” It is not about what our abilities are, but about the choices that we make.”

It stunned me for a moment. This is one of those moments when I pause and reflect. I make choices all the time… we all make choices all the time… what we choose to do, is what matters.

This reminds me of a topic that my Master explained recently. The choice between Good and pleasant. Lets take an example of daily routine. I am on road and someone next to me signals to come in my lane. What do I do? Race up or let him/her in?

I have a trolley load to transfer to my car after shopping. My trolley has a coin in it. Car cleaning guy comes to help me put my bags in the car. Once finished, what did I choose to do?

I can go on giving examples… choice all around us all the time. These choices are like my ladder, my path. If I am heading on a road in certain direction, I can imagine where it will take me.

Are choices linked with Destiny? Hummmm….!!!

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