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There was once a king in Middle East, who was always unhappy. He constantly worried about bad things that happened, or could happen, in his kingdom. Even when good things happened, he worried that they would not last long and that bad things were just around the corner.
Tired of being in a constant state of tension, the King summoned his Minister and gave him a task: “Find or create a short motto that would keep me balanced all the time. It must be a wise and true motto, one that is valid forever and useful in good times and bad. It should be simple so that any person can get solace from it under any circumstance. You must find it within six months.”
It was a difficult task and the Minister travelled far and wide and consulted many people in the kingdom in order to find the motto. He could not find the right one and the deadline was nearing. Finally, he heard about a truly wise man and went to his house. The wise man was poor and simple and heard the Minister patiently. “Come back tomorrow and I will give you the answer,“ he told the Minister.
The next day the wise man gave the Minister an inexpensive ring, which had a short motto engraved on it. He told the Minister: “Ask your King to wear the ring always and look at the motto whenever he feels unhappy.” The Minister read the motto and realized that he had found what the King wanted.
The Minister hurried to the palace and presented the ring to the King. He told the King: “Your Majesty, the motto you wanted is engraved on the ring. It will keep you equanimous always, whatever be the circumstances.”
The King read the motto and realized that it was indeed the answer to all his troubles. The motto was: “This too shall pass.”
Background:
The motto and the story are well-known in many cultures. The specific words “This too shall pass” may have originated in Sufi literature. The story was retold by the English poet Edward Fitzgerald. In his version, a sultan requests King Solomon to give him a sentence that would always be true in good times or bad and Solomon responds with the motto.
On September 30, 1859, Abraham Lincoln recounted the story in an address to the Wisconsin Agricultural Society:
It is said an Eastern monarch once charged his wise men to invent him a sentence, to be ever in view, and which should be true and appropriate in all times and situations. They presented him the words: “And this, too, shall pass away.” How much it expresses! How chastening in the hour of pride! How consoling in the depths of affliction!
The sentiment expressed by the story is worth remembering when a pestilence such the current Covid-19 strikes the population or the people of a country suffer under a dictator or an authoritarian ruler (as is the case in the world today).
This is a remarkable story that I will never get tired of reading. Its wisdom travels true times…valid a thousand years ago, very relevant in today’s COVID-19 pandemic, and will be relevant in the future when we’re traveling at the speed of light.
A must read story for all during good and bad times 🙂 Keep writing.
Inspiring story. The best part is that this phrase is valid equally in good and bad times. A deeper aspect would be to enjoy life without getting too involved (like the way an actor is able to come out of a role once the show is over)
Thank you for reminding me of these wonderfully wise words. We are living in challenging times right now, the immense uncertainty and worry if and when our lives will return to normalcy, worry about things that are not in my control….
This too shall pass …. gives me solace, the courage to face the day and know this too shall pass….
A nice initiative Professor 🙂 Thanks for writing..
“This too shall pass” brings us to sensitize ourselves that we accept what comes to us without grudge. There are no good and bad times. It is our perception that makes something good or bad. If we make ourselves to be comfortable for everything to pass, then life’s perspective changes altogether. Life becomes more sublime and meaningful thwarting out worries of things that will never happen, and if it were to happen it is accepted with grace. Life is to lived and not anticipated. We seat ourselves on the judgement throne and there lies our fault. Allow inevitable things to pass and the energy remains without dissipation.
All the stories are profoundly inspirational. To the extent , we practice these values in our lives, conquering our CONDITIONED MINDS & HABITS, to that extent we contribute our little bit ( humming bird ) to the PEACE in the external world ; but a remarkable transformation can take place to our inner world’s tranquility .
Changing our styles of living & thinking mind, is what matters really . Internal transformation to PEACE lies in our OWN efforts , as a PRACTIONER of these Values !
I am a super senior citizen, I am trying my best to overcome the several decades
of conditioning, and practice …….try, try,….. and enjoy whatever success you are gradually getting & progressing ! 🙂
Great initiative Prof.RR. We need to keep positive.
Power of Negative is 10 times stronger than positive. This hindsight bias is exists but can be minimized.
Jiddu Krishnamurti [ JK] points to this as man is a insecure being. The conditioned brain things in past or future and never in present. So, this too will pass also will be painful and may increase the power of negative.
If you ask our saints, they will try to explain this as attachment. And antidote for this is a different tool.
This is my little understanding- This too will pass will also become a hindsight bias.