"The Story of the Widowed Farmer"

Long ago in China, a widowed planter lived with his only son. They worked hard together, daring the harsh layoffs and scorching summers, counting on their one remaining steed. But one cataclysmal day, the son forgot to secure the stable gate, and the steed escaped. When the neighbors heard the news, they came to the planter, offering their sympathies “What bad luck! Without your steed, it'll be insolvable to maintain the ranch. Your son’s mistake in not locking the gate is a terrible mischance! ” The planter calmly replied, “maybe yes, maybe no. ”

The veritably coming day, the steed returned to the stable, bringing with it six wild nags. The planter’s son made sure to lock the gate securely before all seven of them. When the neighbors learned of this, they visited the planter again, excitedly saying, “What awful news! With seven nags, you can fluently manage the ranch, and the others can be vended for a good profit. What a blessing! ” The planter responded with the same words, “perhaps, perhaps not.”

The following day, while trying to constrain one of the wild nags, the planter’s son was thrown off and landed on the rocky ground, breaking his leg. Upon hearing this, the neighbors returned to the planter, lamenting, “What a terrible turn of events! Now, without your son’s help, how will you manage the ranch? It’s a disaster! ” formerly again, the planter replied, “perhaps or not.”

The day after that, a general from the Imperial Chinese Army came to the villi to conscript all the youthful men to fight in a war against a important adversary. Because of his broken leg, the planter’s son was spared from being drafted. When the neighbors learned of this, they came to the planter, rejoicing, “What a relief! Your son has been saved from the troubles of war. What a stroke of good fortune” The planter simply said, “maybe yes or no. ”

Interpretation of the Chinese Farmer’s Story the story of the Chinese planter offers profound assignments about withholding judgment on what we perceive as mischance or good luck. Can we truly distinguish between fortune and mischance with certainty?

It may be wiser to avoid rushing to conclusions about events, admitting that what happens cannot be fluently distributed as good or bad. As champion Alan Watts suggested, the story invites us to embrace a form of radical dubitation, pressing the difficulty in determining the true value of any situation. On the other hand, a Stoic champion like Epictetus might see the tale as illustrating the planter’s proper detachment from matters beyond his control — effects that warrant incuriosity. In his

Enchiridion , Epictetus makes a clear distinction between what's within our power and what's not. He wrote “Some effects are within our power, and some effects are beyond our power. Within our power are opinions, pretensions, solicitations, aversions, and, in a word, everything that pertains to ourselves. Beyond our power are bodies, property, reports, powers of office, and, in a word, everything that is n't our own business."

The loss of a steed, the accession of further, the injury of his son, and the avoidance of war — these are all circumstances the planter could not control. From a Stoic perspective, the planter shows wisdom by not letting these external events disturb his peace of mind. Martha Washington, the first First Lady, wisely remarked No matter what the situation, I'm determined to be cheerful and happy, because I've learned that utmost of our misery and unhappiness is determined not by our circumstances but by our station The planter embodies the substance of the Serenity Prayer, which asks, “God, grant me the serenity to accept the effects I cannot change, the courage to change the effects I can do it, and the wisdom to know the difference way.” Alternately, the story may illustrate how original mischances can lead to unanticipated blessings. Short- term perspectives frequently warrant clarity. How numerous times have situations that sounded like significant lapses or tragedies turned out to be the catalyst for commodity extraordinary?

Reflections on Suffering and Well- being the story of the Chinese planter may also illustrate the complex relationship between suffering and well- being. Occasionally, what seems mischievous — like a broken leg — can inadvertently lead to a positive outgrowth, similar as avoiding the troubles of war. Yet, the negative aspect remains negative, anyhow of any salutary consequences that follow. For illustration, a tried murder is innately wrong, indeed if it results in the prisoner of a periodical killer. Also, positive events retain their virtuousness, indeed if they lead to inimical issues. The birth of a child is a joyful occasion, indeed if that child latterly makes poor choices.

Also, the planter’s story may educate us about our comprehensions of good and evil in the midst of life’s lower goods and immoralities. For those with faith, the ultimate good is the eternal experience of perfect Love, virtuousness, and Beauty, known as heaven — a state where people love one another and God impeccably. The ultimate wrong, in discrepancy, is the perpetual insulation of tone- will, where the heart is always equivocal, and the will is ever frustrated in its pursuit of virtuousness. In Dante’s

Conflagration the most wretched souls are trapped in the ninth circle of hell, firmed in a bitsy cell of ice, fully insulated and devoid of freedom. This ice is formed by Satan, who, in his struggle against God, generates further ice with his enormous bodies, further rooting his confinement. The French author Leon Bloy formerly said," The only real anguish, the only real failure, the only great tragedy in life is to not come a saint.

However, also the zenith of happiness, the ultimate achievement, If that's true. Will you and I one day share in the perfect happiness of the saints?