3 Blind Men & An Elephant
I trust that most people have read this story before. Nevertheless, it’s my topic of the day. The following story is extracted from http://www.kheper.net/topics/blind_men_and_elephant/Sufi.html. I could have created my adaptation but it’s pointless to waste my time. By the way, there are other websites that offers explanation of the morale of the story like http://www.aish.com/shmooze/4_blind_men_and_an_elephant.asp & http://www.unsolvedmysteries.com/usm413342.html
So here it goes...
“A community of blind men once heard that an extraordinary beast called an elephant had been brought into the country. Since they did not know what it looked like and had never heard its name, they resolved to obtain a picture, and the knowledge they desired, by feeling the beast - the only possibility that was open to them! They went in search of the elephant, and when they had found it, they felt its body. One touched its leg, the other a tusk, the third an ear, and in the belief that they now knew the elephant, they returned home. But when they were questioned by the other blind men, their answers differed. The one who had felt the leg maintained that the elephant was nothing other than a pillar, extremely rough to the touch, and yet strangely soft. The one who had caught hold of the tusk denied this and described the elephant as, hard and smooth, with nothing soft or rough about it, more over the beast was by no means as stout as a pillar, but rather had the shape of a post ['amud]. The third, who had held the ear in his hands, spoke: "By my faith, it is both soft and rough." Thus he agreed with one of the others, but went on to say: Nevertheless, it is neither like a post nor a pillar, but like a broad, thick piece of leather." Each was right in a certain sense, since each of them communicated that part of the elephant he had comprehended, but none was able describe the elephant as it really was; for all three of them were unable to comprehend the entire form of the elephant.”
This simple story may have been around for ages. Yet, subconsciously most people are just like the blind men. Although they were all partly right, they failed to perceive the whole picture. What’s worse? Some may really turn a ‘blind’ eye to what is really happening and have too strong a belief that they are always right. This is what people called stubborn.
Likewise, I may be one of those blind men but I’ve gradually ‘open’ up my mind a few months back. I found that I’m able to learn and understand more when I take in the views of others. Effectively, I’m trying to do a jigsaw puzzle and forming a complete picture of what is really happening. I’m trying to determine what works best for me. To sidetrack, I remembered learning two contrasting theory by quality gurus Joseph Juran and Deming.
One said “Fear brings out the best in people”
The other said “Fear inhibits growth and potential”
By all means, both theories are correct. Some people do need pressure in order to deliver the goods. While others may need breathing space to deliver the goods. The term ‘deliver the goods’ does not refer to the physically delivering of goods ok?
To conclude... The truth is out there waiting for us to piece it together. It may hurt a little but it sure is much better than constantly living the lie. Are you happy? I’ve no idea...
posted by Desprorado @ 13:03
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home