Perfect Reason: Good Thing? Bad Thing? Who Knows?

London, UK - 28th May 2011, 11:15 GMT

Dear ATCA Open & Philanthropia Friends

[Please note that the views presented by individual contributors are not necessarily representative of the views of ATCA, which is neutral. ATCA conducts collective Socratic dialogue on global opportunities and threats.]

Mystics say everything happens for a perfect reason and nothing is either good or bad but our thinking makes it so. One of our favourite narratives illustrates ancient wisdom to reserve judgement; to remain in the present moment; to mitigate undue stress and worry; to avoid panic; and to have the courage to be moved forward regardless.

Eight Running Horses

Secret of Happiness?

Once upon a time, an old farmer lived in a valley with his son, a handsome and dutiful youth. They lived a peaceful life despite a lack of material possessions. They were very happy. So much so, that neighbours began to get envious and wanted to understand the secret of their happiness.

Savings and Loss?

One day, the old man used all his savings to buy a young and beautiful horse. The very same day he bought it, the horse jumped the fence and escaped into the hills. The neighbours came to express their concern, "Oh, that's too bad. How are you going to work the fields now?"

The farmer replied, "Good thing? Bad thing? Who knows?"

Double Fortune?

In a few days, his horse came back from the hills and brought eight fine horses with him. The neighbours again gathered around, "Oh, how lucky! Now you can do much more work than ever before!" they said.

The farmer replied, "Good thing? Bad thing? Who knows?"

Misfortune?

The next day, the farmer's son fell off one of the new horses and broke his leg. "Such misfortune," said the neighbours. The leg healed crookedly and left the son with a permanent limp and endless pain. The neighbours were concerned again, "Now that he is incapacitated, he can't help you around, that's too bad."

The farmer replied, "Good thing? Bad thing? Who knows?"

Tragedy?

Soon, the news came that war has broken out, and all the young men were required to join the army. The villagers were sad because they knew that many of the young men will not come back. The farmer's son could not be drafted because of his broken leg. His neighbours were envious: "How lucky! You get to keep your only son!"

The farmer replied, "Good thing? Bad thing? Who knows?"

And the narrative goes on...

Conclusion

Life will happen and continue evolving regardless. Things may seem bad, they may seem good. Only time can tell. What if we can alter our perception in the moment towards believing that there is a perfect reason for the way in which the universe is unfolding the way it is? In a nut-shell, everything that seems on the surface to be bad may be good in disguise. And everything that seems good on the surface may not always be so. What would life be like without our ad hoc judgements and negative narratives? We may not be conscious that we are looking at everything from a narrow viewpoint in doing so, but from the higher perspective what appears tragic can be the most appropriate way forward. Do you also have examples from your life of events that seemed good or bad to begin with, and in hindsight you changed your perception?

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