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General Buddhism => General Buddhism => Topic started by: sonamdhargey on December 30, 2012, 11:04:26 AM
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A nice story to share:
I did noticed in my daily life, i did encountered situations like the story which are similar. Sometimes I think my views are right and are better than the others and vice versa and thus the friction created for nothing.
What do you guys think?
The parable of the blind men and the elephant is probably the most widely known and the most loved of all the world’s parables. By far the earliest version of this parable is to be found in the Ud?na, and is attributed to the Buddha (Ud.67-9). The parable’s appeal is due to how well it makes its point, its striking juxtaposing of man and beast and its gentle humor. The background to the Buddha telling this parable is thus. Some monks in S?vatthi noticed a group of non-Buddhist monks quarrelling with each other about some philosophical or theological issue. Later, they mentioned what they had seen to the Buddha and he said, ‘Wanderers of other sects are blind and unseeing. They don’t know the good and the bad and they don’t know the true and the false. Consequently they are always quarrelling, arguing and fighting, wounding each other with the weapon of the tongue.’ Then the Buddha related his famous parable. ‘Once here in Savatthi, the king called a certain man and said: “Assemble together in one place all the men in S?vatthi who were born blind.” Having done as the king commanded, the king then said to the man, “Now show the blind men an elephant.” Again the man did as the king commanded, saying to each as he did, “Oh blind man, this is an elephant and this is its head. This is its ear. This is its tusk. This is its trunk. This is its body. This is its leg. This is its back. This is its tail. This is the end of its tail.” This having been done the king addresses the blind men saying, “Have you seen an elephant?” and they replied, “We have sire.” “And what is an elephant like?” he asked. And the one who had touched the head said, “An elephant is like a pot.” while the one who had touched the ear said, “An elephant is like a winnowing basket.” The one who had touched the tusk said, “An elephant is like a plough pole” while the one who had touched the trunk said, “It is like a plough.” The one who had touched the body said, “It is like a granary,” and the one who had touched the leg said, “It is like a pillar.” The one who had touched the back said, "It is like a mortar", the one who had touched the tail said, “It is like a pestle” while the one who had touched the end of the tail said, “An elephant is like a broom.” Then they began to quarrel saying, “Yes it is!” “No it isn’t!” “An elephant is like this!” “An elephant is like that!” until eventually they began fighting with each other.’ Having told this story, the Buddha summed up its meaning in a terse little verse – ‘Some monks and priests are attached to their views and having seized hold of them they wrangle, like those who see only one side of a thing.’
Source:http://buddhisma2z.com/content.php?id=471 (http://buddhisma2z.com/content.php?id=471)
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Even if the blind man could touch all parts of the elephant, even if the blind man could see the elephant from all sides and hear the elephant and smell it, the understanding of the elephant would still be limited to 5 senses and to the limitation of the mind's capacity to conceptualize the elephant.
So when I read the story, I understand that I should think of myself as a blind man, even though I am not.
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The moral of this story is that it is useless to argue or quarrel when we don't know the truth. The heretics or non-Buddhist monks are like the blind men arguing about what an elephant is. Each of the blind men has only touched one part of the elephant's body. So it is impossible for them to say exactly what an elephant looks like. But they still insist that they are right and the others are wrong. Not knowing what is right or wrong, what is good or evil, they quarrel and hurt each other with weapons of the tongue. Thus, what the story teaches us is to avoid quarrels or arguments that do not benefit us in any way.
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The point of the story is that each blind man is proclaiming what they believe is an absolute truth, in fact all of their truths are just relative based on their experience of the elephant as they did not touch the entire elephant. No one has the Truth, in its entirety. It also teach us how knowledge and truth is in fact relative.
So in our daily, instead of argument about the the different opinions or believe with colleagues as the fact of we have different experience. We should discuss about it and compile all information to get the full picture of the jigsaw, then there will be a win win situation for everyone.
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JOURNEY NO 4 - 19th September 1976
Touring Wan Jiao Gui Zong
JiGong: Today we will again journey to the Underworld; therefore Yang Sheng quickly
climb up to the lotus platform.
Yang Sheng: I obey your instruction, Master. I am now securely seated on the lotus
platform and am ready to proceed.
JiGong: Well, we have arrived. Quickly descend from the platform.
Yang Sheng: I see that before me there is a gate of a fort with the words ‘Gui Men Guan’
(Gate to Devil’s Home). In fact, ‘Gui Men Guan’ is here but why is it that
the door is shut and yet I can hear a lot of disorder voices coming from
within.
JiGong: This door is never opened but the souls of the dead manage to enter into this
home. But you see, I will wave my fan and the door will automatically open.
Yang Sheng: Oh, how wonderful, my respectful Master. You have such powers that
by just waving your fan and the door opens immediately. But the souls
of human beings do not have fans like yours. How then do they manage
to enter?
JiGong: When a human being dies he becomes a ghost. When on Earth the body can
walk about on the roads but after death, he becomes a devil, and on reaching
Gui Men Guan, the gate automatically opens for his soul to enter. When a
person is alive, the door of Earth is open and when he dies, the door of Earth
is closed and the door of Gui Men Guan is open for his soul to enter. This is
one of the wonders of nature. Now walk faster. I will take you to another place.
Yang Sheng: As you instruct, but I can still hear a lot of noise coming from inside Gui
Men Guan like a market place. I don’t know what the souls inside there are
doing.
JiGong: The souls are waiting to be escorted to the TEN TRIBUNALS for the various
stages of trials for what they had done whilst on Earth. Now the soldiers of Hell
are bringing them there. Today we are not going to see this. So follow me
quickly.
Yang Sheng: Yes, why is this road so rugged? Actually where are we going?
JiGong: After walking two miles then you will know.
Yang Sheng: In front of us, I see a soul being led by a soldier of Hell; where is he going?
JiGong: When this person was alive on Earth, he was a religious man, staying in a
Temple but he was not very truly pious because he often belittled other religions
except his own. Now that he is dead, his soul is being led to Hell to be tried.
Yang Sheng: In front of us is a pavilion; there are four characters ‘WAN JIAO GUI
ZONG’! What is this place?
JiGong: At the present time on Earth, there are many religious faiths, but the various
followers of one faith are always attacking the religious beliefs of other faiths
thus causing the meaning of true ascetic practices to be lost. These people are
very evil in speech and so when they die, their souls are brought to Wan Jiao
Gui Zong to undergo further indoctrination and instruction in the correct path.
In front of us is a Master coming. Yang Sheng quickly approach him and pay
your respects.
Yang Sheng: I humbly pay my respect to you, Master.
Master: Welcome, JiGong and Yang Sheng of Sheng Xian Tang who have arrived here
today. Earlier we had received news of your visit. Arise, Yang Sheng, do not
stand on ceremony.
JiGong: Today, I bring Yang Sheng here in the hope that you, Master will kindly show
him this place and explain to him.
Master: Please follow me to the Hall inside. Please be seated.
Yang Sheng: Wan Jiao Gui Zong has a good meaning but its real function is not known
to me. I beg you, Master, to kindly explain the meaning to me.
Master: Nowadays, there are five main important religions in the world i.e 1] Taoism
2] Islam 3] Confucianism 4] Christianity and 5] Buddhism. These are the true
religions but eventually, Heaven sent down the various Sages to teach human
beings throughout the world the true religious beliefs. After the death of these
Sages, the followers of one Sage compete with the followers of the other Sages
to claim that one particular religion was and is better than any other religions.
Now you see this soul being led by the soldiers of Hell. After the death of that
person, his soul is brought here. The Jade Emperor is very kind-hearted. He does
not want to see souls suffer, that is why the office of Wan Jiao Gui Zong is
established so that the souls of religious people are brought here to undergo
further indoctrination and instruction.
JiGong: Master, what you have said is very true, but Yang Sheng here does not quite
understand. If he is brought and shown what you have said, it will be better
because, hearing is one thing and seeing is much better and will remain in
the memory.
Master: Right, then follow me.
Yang Sheng: Oh, this Hall is so large. It covers so many hundred ‘mou’ (Chinese
equivalent of an acre) and looks like a very big classroom with millions
of people waiting for their teacher to come.
Master: Yes, they are like students. Please follow me and we will occupy some of the
seats reserved for distinguished visitors.
Yang Sheng: The stage is so big that we have never seen like this on Earth. In front of us
there is a blackboard which reads ‘Wan Jiao Gui Zong’. I see a lecturer
getting up onto the stage. He looks like a Buddha or holy man. All the
‘students’ stand up to show their respect.
Lecturer: Today we have a visitor from Earth named Yang Sheng of Sheng Xian Tang,
Taiwan, China. Let us all clap hands as a sign of welcome.
Yang Sheng: Master, how can all of these students understand the Lecturer who speaks
in Chinese.
JiGong: The world is so large that there are so many races with so many faiths but when
human beings die their souls become enlightened and they can understand any
language – like when one sees lightning flashing it is sure to be followed by
thunder. Therefore, when they hear the Lecturer speak, all of them know the
meaning of what he is saying. Please do not ask so many questions. Let us
concentrate on the Lecturer’s speech.
Lecturer: There are many kinds of human beings but their hearts are the same. They are
born in various parts of the Earth but when they eventually die all of them will
gather in one place – the Underworld. There are human beings of various
colors and races. When hungry all want to eat, and when tired all will want to
sleep or rest. Above our heads, there is the sky and under our feet there is
Earth. The Sun and the Moon shine on everything everywhere; human beings,
animals and plants all enjoy the effects and benefits of the Sun and the Moon.
In the world there are many religions, each one attacking the other saying that
only their followers will go to Heaven while the followers of other religions
will go to Hell. Religious people who belittle other religions hope to go to
Heaven when they die, but instead they will be suspended half-way, neither in
Heaven nor in Hell – like a caged bird being hung up half-way. These people
think they are already in Heaven but in fact they are in Hell. They are sinful
and cannot save themselves but must depend on others to save them. When all
of you were alive on Earth, each and everyone of you expected to go to
Heaven after death, but actually all of you have now fallen into Hell. When on
Earth, all your bodies were of various colors, black, white, brown, red, yellow,
etc but after death, only your souls come here. After death, the bodies with
various colors do not come here to Hell – the bodies of various colors are left
behind but the hearts or souls of only one color come here. When living you
attacked each other and had no love for each other. Therefore where is this
meaning of universal love and mercy? From the beginning of time until now,
the Sun and the Moon have been shining on all human beings, both good and
evil. They will continue to shine on everyone so that their blessings will be
on this and future generations irrespective of whether they are good or evil.
Therefore, ladies and gentlemen, all your souls here must be aroused and must
have only one heart to work as one body and must not attack each other. Now
spread the teaching of Wan Jiao Gui Zong. ‘Gui Zong’ means one heart – all
hearts must become one heart and must work towards mutual help and love
for each other. All religions have doors wide open to admit those who believe
in any particular religion; although the founders are different , the universal
aim is the same – to teach all to do good. I hope all human beings will follow
this ‘true path’ so that the troubled world can become happy and peaceful. All
the founders of the main religions want to save the souls of human beings but
not their bodies. If all of you can first discover your own inner-most hearts and
avoid evil doings only then can you attain happiness, leading eventually, to the
creation of a united and happy world. Everybody can then become sage-like
and attain wisdom. Otherwise they will fall into Hell to undergo another
transmigration of soul….
JiGong: Time’s up. Yang Sheng, say goodbye to Master. We will come on another visit
when there is an opportunity. Yang Sheng please pay your respects.
Yang Sheng: Master, I am very sorry, time is limited and we have to return to Sheng
Xian Tang although the lecture is not finished. Please excuse me for this
lack of courtesy.
Master: Never mind, we will escort you out.
JiGong: Yang Sheng, climb up the lotus flower platform. Having heard the lecture today,
what are your impression?
Yang Sheng: There is profound meaning in the lecture. On Earth every religion is
attacking each other, like the melon seller claiming that only his melon is
sweet. The best thing is for the customer to taste the fruit himself to find
out. It is also like a person who drinks water; he alone only knows whether
the water is hot or cold on drinking. It is best left to the customer to decide
what is good or what is bad for him. Then only it is fair.
JiGong: Human beings always hold fast to their own wrong beliefs and will not listen
to persuasion, therefore they cannot go to Heaven. Fairies and sages are the
mouth-pieces of Heaven and therefore they are very fair. In future if you are
reborn in another country and believe in the religion of that country, do not
think that I, JiGong, will not come to your assistance when required. Then only
will others know that I am a Sage. This means that I am selfish. I hope that
human beings will discard their selfishness and cultivate public-spiritedness,
otherwise their Heaven is only five feet wide – how many people can such a
five-feet wide Heaven contain? O.K. we have now arrived at Sheng Xian Tang.
Yang Sheng, get down from the lotus platform. Your soul will return to your
body.
The above story is a story I've read some time ago and I find it to be relevant to this topic. For the full story please click the link below.
http://white-sun.com/journeys_to_the_underworld.htm (http://white-sun.com/journeys_to_the_underworld.htm)
Well, it is very often that we fight and argue about what we "think/feel" it right. But what really IS right? There are so many ways to go about everything. As for the story above, there are many religions in the world, each with it's own teachings and values. Who is to say that this is right and that is wrong? Who is to judge? I personally like and agree with the above story that every religion has it's values and the practice to help those who is really seeking enlightenment or simply peace. Hence, never be narrow minded and just thinks that "I" am the RIGHT one and that "MY" way IS the BEST. There are actually many other ways. While maintaining our own practices we also have to be more open minded to accept, respect and assist others in order to see the bigger picture. The world can be a better place where all religions mutually respects and agree with each other, although the practice differs, but everyone is seeking for the same result.
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I love parables and stories that make one think. Its even better when told as a story so here is a youtube video I found. It also gives an insight and summary into the story which is quite interesting. I especially like whole visual aspect of it. Enjoy:
The Elephant and Blind Men Parable (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JseHDbrm6Lc#)
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In my opinion, the lesson learnt from this parable would be for one to have an open mind, to consider the opinion of others and not insist to others one 's conclusion are the correct one. As hope rainbow mentioned, even if we could see, hear, smell, touch and taste an object, we are limited to only 5 aspects of it and therefore could not make an eventual view of the object. So it is really pointless to argue and insist what we perceive are correct and true. Just as in the case of the blind men and the elephant.
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I remembered listening to the story of The Blind Men and the Elephant was i was very young and remembered that the moral of the story is that whatever we do, we must 'see' the other person's view and respect that view.
We are all given an intelligent mind to discern for ourselves the difference between truth and falsehood. What may appear as truth to some one may be considered as false to another. However the important issue in this is to respect the other person's opinion and beliefs. It's without this respect that disagreements, quarrels and wars ensue.
All religions teach the same values , values of Love, Kindness , Compassion , Respect. There are many paths to the same mountain top . Whichever path one takes , it will eventually lead us to the same destination. Instead of directing our efforts , time and energy to argue that 'our' path is the best way,
we should direct that same effort to help our fellow travellers to the top, to the same destination of achieving peace, happiness and love.