an observation on all of us

[Daddy Bear]

many of you are no doubt familiar with the Sufi parable of the blind men and the elephant. this timeless tale speaks eloquently to the folly of drawing conclusions from incomplete data, and is as relevant now as ever. the esteemed 19th C. lawyer/poet John Godfrey Saxe published a great poetic version of this story, which i wanted to share with the members here. though the language is archaic in spots, the message comes through loud and clear:

 

It was six men of Indostan,

To learning much inclined,

Who went to see the Elephant

(Though all of them were blind),

That each by observation

Might satisfy his mind.

 

The First approach'd the Elephant,

And happening to fall

Against his broad and sturdy side,

At once began to bawl:

"God bless me! but the Elephant

Is very like a wall!"

 

The Second, feeling of the tusk,

Cried, -"Ho! what have we here

So very round and smooth and sharp?

To me 'tis mighty clear,

This wonder of an Elephant

Is very like a spear!"

 

The Third approach'd the animal,

And happening to take

The squirming trunk within his hands,

Thus boldly up and spake:

"I see," -quoth he- "the Elephant

Is very like a snake!"

 

The Fourth reached out an eager hand,

And felt about the knee:

"What most this wondrous beast is like

Is mighty plain," -quoth he,-

"'Tis clear enough the Elephant

Is very like a tree!"

 

The Fifth, who chanced to touch the ear,

Said- "E'en the blindest man

Can tell what this resembles most;

Deny the fact who can,

This marvel of an Elephant

Is very like a fan!"

 

The Sixth no sooner had begun

About the beast to grope,

Then, seizing on the swinging tail

That fell within his scope,

"I see," -quoth he,- "the Elephant

Is very like a rope!"

 

And so these men of Indostan

Disputed loud and long,

Each in his own opinion

Exceeding stiff and strong,

Though each was partly in the right,

And all were in the wrong!

 

MORAL,

 

So, oft in theologic wars

The disputants, I ween,

Rail on in utter ignorance

Of what each other mean;

And prate about an Elephant

Not one of them has seen!

 

aren't we very much like those men? we form staunch opinions based on our own experiences, even though we are aware that each of us only sees a small facet of the complexity of life. that seems arrogant to me, yet i am as guilty of it as anyone.

 

our world is vast and seemingly contradictory. only by coming together and exchanging views with open minds can we begin to get a sense of the true nature of the beast. thank goodness for forums like this, in which such vital discussion can take place.

[AwdreeHpburn]

humans are mostly egocentric, aren't we?

[Dako]

Thanks for the reality check. I was having similar thoughts last night.

 

Many of us refer to our own experiences to win an argument, while dismissing the worth of other paths. Mea culpa.

[nottoogreen]

... aren't we very much like those men? we form staunch opinions based on our own experiences, even though we are aware that each of us only sees a small facet of the complexity of life. that seems arrogant to me, yet i am as guilty of it as anyone.

Me too.

our world is vast and seemingly contradictory. only by coming together and exchanging views with open minds can we begin to get a sense of the true nature of the beast. thank goodness for forums like this, in which such vital discussion can take place.

Where we all better ourselves.

 

What works for me here is: Confucius: Do not be concerned about others not appreciating you. Be concerned with your not appreciating others.