1. ¿Buena¿Buena SuerteSuerte, Mala, Mala SuerteSuerte??
Good Luck, Bad Luck?Good Luck, Bad Luck?
A Taoist/ Zen Buddhist ProverbA Taoist/ Zen Buddhist Proverb

2. Había una vez un agricultor. Tenía unHabía una vez un agricultor. Tenía un
caballo. Un dia, el caballo se escapó y secaballo. Un dia, el caballo se escapó y se
fue. Cuando escucharon las noticias, losfue. Cuando escucharon las noticias, los
vecinos del agricultor llegaron a visitarlo.vecinos del agricultor llegaron a visitarlo.
Dijeron:Dijeron:
¡Que mala suerte!¡Que mala suerte!
El agricultor dijo:El agricultor dijo:
Tal vez.Tal vez.

3. There once was a farmer. One day theThere once was a farmer. One day the
farmer's only horse broke out of the corralfarmer's only horse broke out of the corral
and ran away. The farmer's neighbors, alland ran away. The farmer's neighbors, all
hearing of the horse running away, camehearing of the horse running away, came
to the farmer's house to view the corral.to the farmer's house to view the corral.
As they stood there, the neighbors all said,As they stood there, the neighbors all said,
"Oh what bad luck!" The farmer replied,"Oh what bad luck!" The farmer replied,
"Perhaps.""Perhaps."

4. Hace una semana, el caballo regresó, conHace una semana, el caballo regresó, con
diez mas caballos silvestres (wild). Losdiez mas caballos silvestres (wild). Los
vecinos, cuando escucharon las noticias,vecinos, cuando escucharon las noticias,
llegaron a ver todos los caballos. Dijeron:llegaron a ver todos los caballos. Dijeron:
¡Que buena suerte!¡Que buena suerte!
El agricultor dijo:El agricultor dijo:
Tal vez.Tal vez.

5. About a week later, the horse returned,About a week later, the horse returned,
bringing with it a whole herd of wildbringing with it a whole herd of wild
horses, which the farmer and his sonhorses, which the farmer and his son
quickly corralled. The neighbors, hearingquickly corralled. The neighbors, hearing
of the corralling of the horses, came to seeof the corralling of the horses, came to see
for themselves. As they stood therefor themselves. As they stood there
looking at the corral filled with horses, thelooking at the corral filled with horses, the
neighbors said, "Oh what good luck!" Theneighbors said, "Oh what good luck!" The
farmer replied, "Perhaps."farmer replied, "Perhaps."

6. Hace pocos semanas, el hijo del agriculatorHace pocos semanas, el hijo del agriculator
se rompío la pierna cuando estabase rompío la pierna cuando estaba
entrenando unos del los caballosentrenando unos del los caballos
silvestres. Unos dias despues, la piernasilvestres. Unos dias despues, la pierna
del hijo se infectó y el hijo tenia una fiebredel hijo se infectó y el hijo tenia una fiebre
muy mal. Los vecinos llegaron a ver almuy mal. Los vecinos llegaron a ver al
hijo. Dijieron:hijo. Dijieron:
¡Que mala suerte!¡Que mala suerte!
El agricultor dijo:El agricultor dijo:
Tal vez.Tal vez.

7. A couple of weeks later, the farmer's son'sA couple of weeks later, the farmer's son's
leg was badly broken when he was thrownleg was badly broken when he was thrown
from a horse he was trying to break. A fewfrom a horse he was trying to break. A few
days later the broken leg became infecteddays later the broken leg became infected
and the son became delirious with fever.and the son became delirious with fever.
The neighbors, all hearing of the incident,The neighbors, all hearing of the incident,
came to see the son. As they stood there,came to see the son. As they stood there,
the neighbors said, "Oh what bad luck!"the neighbors said, "Oh what bad luck!"
The farmer replied, "Perhaps."The farmer replied, "Perhaps."

8. Al mismo tiempo, empezó unaAl mismo tiempo, empezó una
guerra (war).guerra (war).
Los generales llegaron a laLos generales llegaron a la
comunidad, buscando soldados.comunidad, buscando soldados.
Llevaron a todos de los hombres,Llevaron a todos de los hombres,
pero dejaron uno: el hijo delpero dejaron uno: el hijo del
agricultor. Cuando los generalesagricultor. Cuando los generales
vieron el pobre joven con unavieron el pobre joven con una
fiebre y la pierna roto, pensaronfiebre y la pierna roto, pensaron
que el no podía pelearse.que el no podía pelearse.

9. At that same time in China, a war brokeAt that same time in China, a war broke
out between two rival warlords. Inout between two rival warlords. In
need of more soldiers, a captainneed of more soldiers, a captain
came to the village to conscript youngcame to the village to conscript young
men to fight in the war. When themen to fight in the war. When the
captain came to take the farmer'scaptain came to take the farmer's
son, he found the young man with ason, he found the young man with a
broken leg--delirious with fever.broken leg--delirious with fever.
Knowing there was no way the sonKnowing there was no way the son
could fight, the captain left him there.could fight, the captain left him there.

10. Hace pocos dias, la fiebra del joven seHace pocos dias, la fiebra del joven se
desaparezcó. Los vecinos, cuandodesaparezcó. Los vecinos, cuando
escucharon que el joven estabaescucharon que el joven estaba
mejor, y que no tenía que ir a pelearmejor, y que no tenía que ir a pelear
en la guerra (war) llegaron a visitarlo.en la guerra (war) llegaron a visitarlo.
Dijeron:Dijeron:
¡Que buena suerte!¡Que buena suerte!
El agricultor dijo:El agricultor dijo:
Tal vez.Tal vez.

11. A few days later, the son's fever broke.A few days later, the son's fever broke.
The neighbors, hearing of the son'sThe neighbors, hearing of the son's
not being taken to fight in the war andnot being taken to fight in the war and
of his return to good health, all cameof his return to good health, all came
to see him. As they stood there, eachto see him. As they stood there, each
one said, "Oh what good luck!" Theone said, "Oh what good luck!" The
farmer replied, "Perhaps."farmer replied, "Perhaps."