Ancient Wisdom - An Inspiring Hindu Story

The story of  THE BLIND MEN AND AN ELEPHANT comes from India. The earliest versions of that inspiring story or parable is found in Buddhist, Hindu and Jain texts. 

It is about our limits of perception, and the importance of a complete context. The range of truths and mistakes we may incur when we observe things, and the need for respecting different perspectives.

It also shows the importance of questioning after analyzing things, and before we are able to have a more holistic view of things.

                   
THE BLIND MEN AND AN ELEPHANT story has several variations, but it broadly goes as follows:

A group of six blind men heard that a strange animal, called an elephant, had been brought to the town, but none of them were aware of its shape and form.

Out of curiosity, they said: "We must inspect and know it by touch. Each one of us will feel a different part, but only one part."

The first blind man who placed his hand on the trunk, said: "This being is like a thick snake."

The second blind man whose hand reached its ear, said : "It seemed like a kind of fan."

The third blind man whose hand was upon its leg, said: " It is like a tree trunk."

The fourth blind man who placed his hand upon its side said: "It is like a wall."

The fifth blind man who felt its tail, described it as a rope.

The sixth and last blind man felt its tusk, stated that it is hard, and smooth like a spear.

Last but not least... 

     What have you learned from that inspiring story?