The Zen Farmer

Retold to me by Rodney Handelsman

One day, the zen farmer was approached in his home by members of his village. They cried, "Zen farmer, zen farmer! We bring wonderful news! A silver stallion was found on your property! This means that the silver stallion is now yours, and may bring you much wealth!" The zen farmer looked contemplatively at the villagers, and asked them, "Why do you think that is good news?"

The villagers walked out confused by the zen farmer's reaction to his good fortune.

The next day, the zen farmer's son was grooming the silver stallion, when the silver stallion suddenly became upset and attacked the zen farmer's son, breaking both of his legs. The villagers rushed into the home of the zen farmer and cried, "Zen farmer, zen farmer! We bring horrible news! The silver stallion has broken both of your son's legs!" The zen farmer looked contemplatively at the villagers and asked them, "Why do you think that is bad news?"

The villagers walked out confused by the zen farmer's reaction to his bad fortune.

The next day, the neighboring village, after centuries of peaceful coexistence, declared war on the zen farmer's village. An army of young men was quickly assembled to meet the forces of the neighboring village, and every man in the zen farmer's village army was killed in battle. His son, having two broken legs, was not conscripted into the village army and remained at home with the zen farmer and the silver stallion.

The next day, the zen farmer's crops were found torched by the neighboring village and the silver stallion purloined, leaving him with a barren field. The villagers rushed into the home of the zen famer and cried, "Zen farmer, zen farmer! We bring horrible news!"