This Too Shall Pass...
Once, there was a great king who was very powerful. He held sway over many thousands of subjects, and his every wish was granted in the instant that he wished it. His many subjects loved and respected him, and no one would dare to disobey him.
One day, the king summoned his wisest and most trusted advisers and charged them thus:
"Go out into my kingdom, and find me someone who can make me a ring that will transform great sadness into great happiness."
The advisers were puzzled, but immediately did as the king had instructed and began their search. After days of fruitless searching, they had still not succeeded in finding such a talisman. They asked healers, and magicians, and jewelry makers, but none had ever heard of such a ring. "This must be very powerful magic indeed!" they mused.
On the fifth day of their search, in the very farthest reaches of the kingdom, they came to the hut of the kingdom's oldest resident. The old man was bent and twisted with age, and his toothless grin as he greeted the advisers was both charming as well as knowing. Surely, thought the advisers, if such a ring exists, this man will know of it.
The lead adviser spoke to the old man. "Brother, His Majesty, the king has charged us with finding a very powerful talisman - a ring that can turn great sadness into great happiness. We have searched for five days, but no one in this vast kingdom has ever hear of such a ring. Do you know if one exists?"
The old man grinned his toothless grin and rocked back and forth on his heels. "Oh yes, I know that ring! Wait here!" and he disappeared into his tiny hut. When he returned, he held a small wooden box, ornate with intricate carvings. He handed the box to the advisers and said, "take this to the king; I believe this is what he seeks! But be warned, THIS ring does turn great sadness into great happiness, but also great happiness into great sadness."
Puzzled at the old man's words, the advisers took the box, and made their way back to the castle. When he heard that his trusted advisers had returned, and that they had succeeded in their task, the king was overjoyed. He summoned them to his chambers excitedly.
"My most trusted advisers, I knew you would not fail me! This is a glorious day, for now I possess everything I have ever wanted! With this ring, I will never be sad, and my life will be a joy!" He took the box from his advisers and opened it. Inside was a small, golden ring.
Etched into the gold were these words: "This Too Shall Pass".
The king read the words, and upon reading them, became very sad indeed. Thus it was that the advisers truly found a ring that could turn great sadness into great happiness, but also great happiness into great sadness.
Lately, I've been thinking about the phrase, "This Too Shall Pass". We use that phrase as a poultice to ease the suffering of our friends and loved ones. When those we care for are suffering, we tell them that "this too shall pass", as a message of hope, and an assurance that there are brighter days ahead.
In the truest Buddhist tradition, the story above illustrates the true, and often hidden second meaning of this timeless phrase: yes, the difficult times are temporary, but so too are the happy times. In time, everything changes, and should we become attached to those things that make us happy, we will soon find ourselves awash in sadness and a desperate wish for the happier times of the past.
Nothing is permanent; all things end. Knowing this can comfort us in the difficulties of life, but should also serve as a warning that it can all change at any moment. I gives us pause and can be a very scary concept. But don't fret, this too shall pass.
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