The Lesson From The Elephant & The Blind Men

I was reminded of this story today. It sprang to mind after reading some of the articles and following comments related to the global women’s protest. I think it's a good story and an even more important message. 

Once upon a time, there lived six blind men in a village. One day the villagers told them, "Hey, there is an elephant in the village today."

They had no idea what an elephant is. They decided, "Even though we would not be able to see it, let us go and feel it anyway." All of them went to where the elephant was. Everyone of them touched the elephant.

1. "Hey, the elephant is a pillar," said the first man who touched his leg.
2. "Oh, no! it is like a rope," said the second man who touched the tail.
3. "Oh, no! it is like a thick branch of a tree," said the third man who touched the trunk of the elephant.
4. "It is like a big hand fan" said the fourth man who touched the ear of the elephant.
5. "It is like a huge wall," said the fifth man who touched the belly of the elephant.
6. "It is like a solid pipe," Said the sixth man who touched the tusk of the elephant.

They began to argue about the elephant and everyone of them insisted that he was right. It looked like they were getting agitated. A wise man was passing by and he saw this. He stopped and asked them, "What is the matter?" They said, "We cannot agree to what the elephant is like." Each one of them told what he thought the elephant was like. The wise man calmly explained to them, "All of you are right. The reason every one of you is telling it differently because each one of you touched the different part of the elephant. So, actually the elephant has all those features what you all said."

"Oh!" everyone said. There was no more fight. They felt happy that they were all right.The moral of the story is that there may be some truth to what someone says. Sometimes we can see that truth and sometimes not because they may have different perspective which we may not agree too. So, rather than arguing like the blind men, we should say, "Maybe you have your reasons." This way we don’t get in arguments. 

In Jainism, it is explained that truth can be stated in seven different ways. So, you can see how broad our religion is. It teaches us to be tolerant towards others for their viewpoints. This allows us to live in harmony with the people of different thinking. This is known as the Syadvada, Anekantvad, or the theory of Manifold Predictions.

I think that applies to politics (not just religion). As well as applying to our social belief's. I personally think the demand that people take sides, support one side or the other creates a lot of the stresses we see in the world today. Politics, religion, even actual sport, it's all about sides. Using the elephant as the example. Dependant of your side, you’ll see the elephant differently, but it's still an elephant. 

Many of the reactions to the global women’s protest were the same. According to some, if you marched you were a leftist, raging lesbian, feminist, pinko. How insulting. Millions of concerned people just like you and me. Branded.Despite many who were just the opposite and, who supported the march. In stating that, these people were still labelled; leftist, lesbian, feminist, pinkos. I am one who was essentially called a liar. I couldn't possibly be a conservative, if I supported the protestors. Bit silly really.

When people are separated into sides, suggesting that an idea from the other side has merit will result in you being given a red card faster than you can blink and eye. You're sent off and sin-binned. Torn asunder and fed to the wolves. Branded a traitor and obviously confused about who you really are. When really, it’s simply a matter of the people seeing and judging things differently. I don't think life or belief should be about the limitation of sides. I believe it should be about right or wrong. The elephant is the creation of sum parts. Life and humanity is the same.

Always remember, that in respecting the opinions of others, we aren't being disloyal to our own.