The Bigger Picture is often overlooked - 6 Blind Men + an Elephant!

walkerscott


Joined: 13/08/2009
Posts: 901

Message Posted:
16/07/2010 14:25

There once were 6 blind men who, upon encountering an elephant, gave their own individual assessments of the elephant.

The first one happened to fall against the broad and sturdy side of the elephant, and concluded that the elephant is very much like a wall.

The second one, feeling the tusk, said the elephant was very much like a spear.

The third one happened to take the squirming trunk in his hands, and said the elephant was very much like a snake.

The fourth one, reached out and touched the elephant’s knee, and concluded that the elephant is very much like a tree.

The fifth one happened to touch the ear, and insisted that the elephant is very much like a fan.

The sixth one seized the swinging tail, and said the elephant is very much like a rope.

Each of the blind men was partly right based on his own subjective perception - but at the same time, mostly wrong. The funny part of it all is that their dispute stemmed from utter ignorance because none had ever seen the elephant

No1Doyen


Joined: 04/07/2008
Posts: 16617

Message Posted:
16/07/2010 20:12

John. Isn't this a parable applied to a religious belief?

walkerscott


Joined: 13/08/2009
Posts: 901

Message Posted:
16/07/2010 20:33

Hi Bill,



I only know it as the Legend of the six blind men and the Elephant!

keithcaley



Joined: 13/06/2008
Posts: 2521

Message Posted:
16/07/2010 21:11

Bill,

'Wiki' tells us that there are indeed Jain, Buddhist, Sufi Muslim, & Hindu versions of this parable: -

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blind_men_and_an_elephant

No1Doyen


Joined: 04/07/2008
Posts: 16617

Message Posted:
16/07/2010 21:13

Spot on Keith - well done.

No1Doyen


Joined: 04/07/2008
Posts: 16617

Message Posted:
16/07/2010 21:18

Interesting Hindu analogy;

"A number of blind men came to an elephant. Somebody told them that it was an elephant. The blind men asked, ‘What is the elephant like?’ and they began to touch its body. One of them said: 'It is like a pillar.' This blind man had only touched its leg. Another man said, ‘The elephant is like a husking basket.’ This person had only touched its ears. Similarly, he who touched its trunk or its belly talked of it differently. In the same way, he who has seen the Lord in a particular way limits the Lord to that alone and thinks that He is nothing else."

keithcaley



Joined: 13/06/2008
Posts: 2521

Message Posted:
16/07/2010 21:35

Ah,

You obviously read it more carefully than my 'quick skim' then!