The Parable of the Blind Men and the Elephant
An ancient parable tells of a group of blind people meeting an elephant for the first time. The first grabs the tail, and thinks they have gripped a rope.
The second touches the trunk, and cries "Snake!"
Another describes the elephant's leg as a tree, while the person holding the tusk thinks it is a weapon of some sort.
Their descriptions diverge — each man defining the elephant based on a tiny piece of the puzzle.
Each one of them describing their own experience, their own truth, based on their previous experiences and what they are opening to in the moment.
None of them has the birdseye view and who is to say that any of them is actually wrong?
If I'm holding the tail, and I refuse to look at the other parts or to let go of my 'rope', then I might easily convince myself that the elephant is, in fact, merely a rope.
And from my narrow boundary perspective, I'd be right - although I'd also be missing the complete picture.
To accurately describe the whole, we should consider other information - other views and opinions - even other senses.
Only then can we perceive the complete 'elephant'.
It's when we widen our horizons that the elephant appears. Zoom out again, and we see that the elephant is breathing, moving - living.
Wider still, and it becomes clear that the elephant is not alone - it is part of a memory [yep, a group of elephants can be known as a 'memory of elephants' ].
And if we keep widening our horizons, we realise the elephant is part of an entire ecosystem ...
While we are working on the 'rope', 'tree', 'snake' or 'weapon', it can help to remember that there is an elephant in the room ...
Zoom in and get into the details.
Zoom out and observe what's around the details.
We get to choose.
Each has a powerful perspective for us to understand life.
Learning to zoom in and out is an excellent practice.
The Essence of the Journey
Life’s journey, much like touching an elephant from different angles, requires an acknowledgment of the unseen.
We get to embrace the fact that we can’t fully grasp the richness of others’ experiences. This one is yet again about acceptance; deeper yet it’s about humility in the face of the vast unknown.
So, as you navigate the twists and turns of life, remember the blind men and the elephant. Open yourself to the idea that others see, perceive, and experience the world in ways unimaginable to you.
It’s a journey of acknowledging the unseen, fostering understanding, and relishing the mystery that makes every interaction a unique symphony of perspectives.
Enjoy the day. There will never be another one like it.