Would you prefer to be the pig?

A pig farmer went to see Ajahn Chah one day and complained about his business. “Oh man, this year it’s really too much! The price of feed is up. The price of pork is down. I’m losing my shirt!”

Ajahn Chah listened to his laments and said, “Don’t feel too sorry for yourself, sir. If you were a pig, then you’d have a good reason to feel sorry for yourself. When the price of pork is high, the pigs are slaughtered. When the price of pork is low, the pigs are still slaughtered. The pigs really have something to complain about. The people shouldn’t be complaining. Think about this seriously, please.”

The pig farmer was worried about the prices he was getting for his hogs. But it’s the pigs who have more to worry about because they were getting slaughtered, yet we don’t consider that. As long as we’re not being killed, we can think of a way out of any situation…right? Or would you prefer to be the pig? O_o

Story lifted from Everything Arises, Everything Falls Away - teachings of Ajahn Chah.

I remember a friend once told me a similar story. She said that we should all be happy that we can be human beings and not a tree. Whether the tree likes it or not, it has no choice but to stay outdoor in the sun and rain. It can’t decide on it’s own condition. We all have a choice as to where we want to be, what we want to be. So don’t complain too much. Appreciate your current situation, learn to think out of the box…ok?