Zen Story on Wild Horses

It is said that what the caterpillar calls the end of the world the master calls the butterfly.

There is a Zen story about a peasant farmer who owned a beautiful horse desired by others. One day it disappeared. When all the villagers remarked on his bad luck, he calmly replied,

"Maybe so, maybe not." His son went looking for it. A few days later the horse returned, leading a herd of fine wild horses. The villagers remarked on his good luck. He calmly replied, "Maybe so, maybe not."

A week later, his son was thrown and crippled while training the horses. When the villagers again remarked on his bad luck, he calmly replied, "Maybe so, maybe not." Within a week, a frivolous war was declared by the emperor and all young men, save the farmer's son, were forced into battle and none returned.

"Let's reserve judgement on events, and on lives, and await the butterfly to emerge"