“See the light in others and treat them as if that is all that you see” Wayne Dyer
“Once upon a time there was a king who knew he would be dying soon. He wondered, “Which of my two sons should I leave in charge of this kingdom?” He wanted to find out which son would be a noble, benevolent, and loving caretaker of his people
The king called in his first-born son and said, “Search throughout the kingdom and find one good person and bring him to me.” So this son went throughout the kingdom in search of a good person. For over a year he searched out all the kinds of people who he thought might be good. He extensively talked to teachers, doctors, nurses, farmers, students, yogis, holy men, old people, and children. But with each person, he found some defect in their character, personality, or behavior.
Finally, he came home to his father and said, “I have been throughout this whole kingdom. I have talked to every kind of person you would expect to be good. Yet I could not find a single truly good person to bring to you.”
The king then called his second son and said, “My dear son, please search throughout my kingdom and find me a truly bad person.” So this son left to fulfill his father’s request. First, he went to all the places where you’d expect to find a bad person—from the gambling and drug dens to the prisons that held the most violent people. He went everywhere and interviewed people who, at first, seemed bad to the core. But the more he talked to each person, the more he saw that beneath the faults, bad habits and flaws, he saw something good in each person—albeit very small.
After a year of searching, the second son gave up and returned home to report to the king. “My dear father,” he said, “I am very sorry, but I have failed. I have been unable to find a truly bad person.” His father embraced him, saying, “My dear son, you are worthy of being king.”
According to the great yoga spiritual masters and texts, the more we cultivate the goodness within our own hearts through yoga, meditation and a peaceful lifestyle, the more we are able to recognise the good in others. If we fail to cultivate the goodness within ourselves, we will, struggle to see the good in others … and rather, will always be searching out their faults and flaws.
I found this story on a yoga teachers website and it struck a chord with me after my first day of teaching at Walgrove Ranch .
Every single horse and rider I have taught here (and anywhere) has reminded me of the potential and inherent beauty that each and every one of us carries within. In the busyness of everyday life, it is so easy to forget this light that lies within each of us and get swept away by our to do lists and daily activities.
As a coach and rider, I see it as my work (and privilege) to remind humans and horses alike of this magnificence within and help them unpack their individual gifts to bring forward into their riding and the world.
Let’s remind ourselves of our light, our horses light and that of the people around us. Let us take a moment to connect with this light in ourselves and others, and lets see what may be illuminated by this light…
Namasté,
Anna