Whenever I’m feeling a bit stressed or overwhelmed with circumstances beyond my control, I recall the following Zen parable.
You are at the grand opening of a new shopping mall on the edge of town. You’ve been driving around looking for a parking space for ten minutes. At last, right in front of you, a car pulls out of a spot. You hit your turn signal and wait as the car backs out. Suddenly, from the other direction, comes a Jeep that pulls into the space. Not only that, but when you honk, the driver gets out, smirks, and gives you the finger.
Are you angry?
Now change the scene ever so slightly. Instead of a brash Jeep driver, a cow walks into the space from the other direction and settles down in the middle of it. When you honk, she looks up and moos but doesn’t budge.
Are you angry?
Source: The Cow in the Parking Lot: A Zen Approach to Overcoming Anger by Leonard Scheff and Susan Edmiston (Amazon link)
Hi Joanne,
Thanks so much for sharing “The Cow in the Parking Lot.” And thanks to your friends too! We really appreciate your sharing the word.
Susan Edmiston
You’re very welcome, Susan. I enjoyed reading and highly recommend “The Cow in the Parking Lot.” 🙂
Just thinking about cows makes me smile…chocolate milk…ice cream…ahhh…
YUM!! More reasons to smile about cows. Thanks for dropping by, Anne 🙂
Thank you for that, Joanne. Love it!
You’re very welcome, June. Have a great weekend! 🙂
Reblogged this on NEVA BROWN & BOOKS.
Thanks for reblogging, Neva 🙂
Reblogged this on perfectlyfadeddelusions.
Thanks for reblogging 🙂
Great parable indeed although here in Vermont someone might get mad at the farmer who didn’t keep their cow in the barn. You do find cows in unexpected places here from time to time. 🙂
Hi Christy, Love the idea of finding cows in unexpected places…more opportunities for humor. Unless of course, it becomes a regular occurrence in your backyard. Thanks for dropping by. 🙂
Haha. I Looove that parable. It’s weird but anything to do with traffic stresses me and anything to do with animals makes me smile. How could anyone be angry at a cow! Love their faces.
Hi Elizabeth, Whenever I think of this parable, I can’t help smiling. Cow faces do that for me as well. Thanks for dropping by. 🙂