Blind Men and Elusive Elephants

Blind Men
Appraising an Elephant
Painting by Ohara Donshu

There's an elephant in many a room that we're trying to see, know and even possess.  The trouble is we're quite blind, and blind to our own blindness.

As the ancient tale goes, there were six blind men who each touched a unique part of the same elephant. The tusk felt like a spear, the trunk like a snake, the ear like a fan, the side like a wall, the leg like a tree, and the tail like a rope.

Each was convinced that the elephant was exactly as he, and he alone, had perceived it.  When their conclusions sharply differed, each was convinced that arguments alone could solve this dilemma.

...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...

The First Amendment of the United States Constitution gives us the precious right to freedom of speech and religion.  This allows for the freedom to practice one's own faith, as well as the freedom to examine other traditions.  With such freedom comes a great deal of responsibility: the responsibility to remain kind, humble and aware of blind spots while appraising elusive elephants.

Resources

https://allpoetry.com/The-Blind-Man-And-The-Elephant