In a day of illusions
and utter confusions
Upon our delusions
We base our conclusions
-- Author Unknown
Â
The story of the Blind Men and the Elephant is good example of how different perspectives of the same issue result in an incomplete understanding. The views that each man expressed about the elephant were correct but only for that part of the elephant that they had experienced. The full knowledge about the elephant could only be constructed from listening to all views.
Â
This folk tale has been told and re-told through the ages by different religions and cultures. The meaning is always the same: to get the full picture ask and share information, do not assume the way you see things is right or the full story, listen, compare notes, make changes in your thoughts and be open to more input. Cooperative efforts and information sharing can be of benefit to all participants.
Â
Perspective, viewpoint and background beliefs filter are visions of life and the mental image of the situation for each of us. It is not good or bad, it just is. But to see more than one mental picture or side of an issues gives our thoughts the ability to morph change and at times be the same.
Â
Mental floss prevents truth decay. That means to understand anything one has to actively do mental exercises to keep one's brain sharp and to develop good reasoning skills. Be open to being wrong or be willing to live with stagnation. Ben Franklin observed, "One of the tragedies of life is the murder of a beautiful theory by a gang of brutal facts."
Â
By listening - not hearing - but actively listening, I can gain some valuable ideas and apply greater shades of meaning to the issues facing my world.  I am resolved and mentally work to not let my demographics keep me from developing a clearer understanding of others.
Â
Â
Â
Tricks the Brain Plays
Human Mind Likes to Present a Consistent Picture
by  of NPR's All Things Considered,
May 19, 2004 ·
Scientists at the California Institute of Technology have developed a visual illusion that they believe will help explain how human brains make sense of the world. The computer simulation shows how various parts of the brain act together to make a coherent visual image. Do the Illusion and read about the results of this study at:
recommend
Facebook
Twitter
bookmark 
print
Comments: 4
Amazing how these folk tales and parables are applicable even with today's technological advancements.
I sometimes wish we humans had a clearer ancestor memory from birth so we did not have to re-learn each generation.
Your icon has the cutest little yellow puppy. Tell us about pup in an article.
However, while this folk tale may have been told and re-told through the ages by different religions, I don't believe that most religions subscribe to the "do not assume the way you see things is right or the full story" concept.
I agree with your comment about the pup in Jonathon's icon. I'd like to know more about it as well. Isn't it a beauty?
The story of the Blind Men and the Elephant, as a parable regarding the fact that people tend to understand only a tiny portion of Reality and then extrapolate all manner of dogmas from that, each claiming only his one is the correct version, has re-appeared a number of times in both Western and Oriental thought. I have even seen a Unification Church ("Moonie") pamphlet entitled "The Whole Elephant".
original version from the Buddhist canon
A number of Islamic versions
At the link below:
http://www.kheper.net/topics/blind_men_and_elephant/
A western version, by the American poet John Godfrey Saxe (1816 - 1887)