Once upon a time, in ancient China, there lived a wise and virtuous farmer.

Once upon a time, in ancient China, there lived a wise and virtuous farmer. He was known for his kind and gentle nature, and was respected by all who knew him.

One day, the farmer's only horse ran away. When his neighbors heard the news, they came to offer their sympathies. "What terrible luck!" they exclaimed. "How will you work your fields without your horse?"

The farmer simply replied, "Maybe."

The next day, to everyone's surprise, the horse returned, bringing with it a wild stallion. The neighbors came to congratulate the farmer on his good fortune. "How lucky you are!" they exclaimed. "Now you have two horses to work your fields."

The farmer simply replied, "Maybe."

A few days later, while his son was trying to train the wild stallion, he was thrown off and broke his leg. The neighbors came to offer their condolences. "What a tragedy!" they exclaimed. "Your son won't be able to help you on the farm anymore."

The farmer simply replied, "Maybe."

A few weeks later, soldiers from the neighboring kingdom came to conscript young men for war. When they saw the farmer's son with his broken leg, they passed him by. The neighbors came to congratulate the farmer on his good fortune. "How lucky you are!" they exclaimed. "Your son won't have to go to war."

The farmer simply replied, "Maybe."

The parable illustrates the importance of having a balanced and non-judgmental attitude towards life. In the face of adversity or good fortune, the wise farmer remained calm and composed, refusing to jump to conclusions or make assumptions about the future. He recognized that life is full of ups and downs, and that what may appear to be bad luck at first can sometimes turn out to be a blessing in disguise.

The story reminds us that the events of our lives are often beyond our control, but that we can control our attitudes and responses to them. By cultivating a sense of equanimity and non-attachment, we can learn to navigate the unpredictable twists and turns of life with grace and wisdom.