There were six men of Hindustan,
to learning much inclined,
Who went to see an elephant,
though all of them were blind,
That each by observation
might satisfy his mind.
The first approached the elephant,
and happening to fall
Against his broad and sturdy side,
at once began to bawl,
“This mystery of an elephant
is very like a wall.”
The second, feeling of the tusk,
cried, “Ho, what have we here,
So very round and smooth and sharp?
To me ’tis mighty clear,
This wonder of an elephant
is very like a spear.”
The third approached the elephant,
and happening to take
The squirming trunk within his hands,
thus boldly up and spake,
“I see,” quoth he,
“the elephant is very like a snake.”
The fourth reached out an eager hand,
and felt above the knee,
“What this most wondrous beast
is like is very plain” said he,
“‘Tis clear enough the elephant
is very like a tree.”
The fifth who chanced to touch the ear
said, “E’en the blindest man
Can tell what this resembles most;
deny the fact who can;
This marvel of an elephant
is very like a fan.”
The sixth no sooner had begun
about the beast to grope,
Than seizing on the swinging tail
that fell within his scope;
“I see,” said he, “the elephant
is very like a rope.”
So six blind men of Hindustan
disputed loud and long,
Each in his own opinion
exceeding stiff and strong;
Though each was partly in the right,
they all were in the wrong!
The moral of the story is surely that all men have at best an imperfect perception of life, especially religious and spiritual matters, and hence no religion can legitmately claim to have a monopoly of the truth
Thanks for stopping by and taking the time to comment. However, I look at it as though God is the elephant and while we may attempt to find out what we can, only in eternity when we see Him face to face will we understand the sovereignty and nature of God fully. We are finite creatures who have been invited to have a relationship with an infinite holy being through His son Jesus Christ.
While it is convenient to say that men have an imperfect perception of life, especially in spiritual and religious matters, and that no religion can have a monopoly of the truth it’s an interesting point of view. Relative to most religions Jesus raised the stakes intensely by claiming He was divine – no other religious leader of the major religions has claimed that. If I may let me follow your point of view;
Suppose another religion were right and instead of following that religion, I became a Christian. Many religions agree that living a Christian life is a moral and good one. Even so, according to them, although I would miss top spot, my life after death would be fairly comfortable. A few religions claim that after death I’ll cease to exist unless I follow them. That’s ok – I’m dead, there’s nothing more so I’m not too worried about that.
Some religions say that reincarnation will give me a second chance. That’s ok too – another life another chance. Then there is Jesus – If he is right and I ignore him, the consequences are unthinkable. This man, renowned for his love, humility and honesty, warned that only by committing myself to him can I avoid an eternity of torment in hell. (Matthew 20:28, 25:32-34,41,46; John 3:16; 14:6) In addition, unlike most other religions, Jesus leaves his believers certain that they will enter heaven. Other religions typically place so many requirements on their adherents before they could be considered worthy of heaven that their followers endure a lifetime of uncertainty as to whether they have met those requirements.
You’re gambling with eternity. Jesus alone is the sinless Son of God who suffered an agonizing death so that you and I could escape eternal torment and enjoy heaven. Improve your odds on life’s most serious gamble by giving priority to weighing Jesus’ claims.
As one author (J.B Phillips) has said; “The testimony of the New Testament cannot be lightly disregarded, nor can the claims of Christ be airily dismissed. Many otherwise intelligent people have never read with adult attention either the four Gospels or the Letters of the New Testament. When they so do, to my certain knowledge they not infrequently become converted. Indeed, I know of no adult who has seriously studied the New Testament and rejected the stories of Christ as mythical or the evidence of changed lives in the Letters as mere fabrication.”
We may agree to disagree with the whole outlook on this topic. As for me the weight of evidence points to Christianity as the most tanglible, reliable and hopeful of all religions. You are entitled to disagree however I hope my answer has been gracious to you.
Thanks Chris for the dialogue and I hope it gives you something to think on.
Mark
Does anyone know who wrote this?
John G. Saxe wrote that.
Is this Chris Curson as in Lanchester ( Coventry ) 1983-1986 ?
im doing this as part of my r.e h/w. and i have to find out how in the end they all understood eachother and also the moral. but this doesent help much? in the one we got we have another two virsus, which i cant find anywhere else.
At least these men on Hindustan,
Who none of them had sight,
After quarelling about the elephant,
Over different parts they did fight,
When all of these parts together came,
They all of them were right!
And so we see when arguing,
The best of things to do,
Is listen to the other men,
And see their points of view!
HELP! :L
Well,I believe it speaks about one delightful lesson because many people(as we observed)often insist that they were right without enough proofs with them. They just kept arguing, thinking they are so true and defending what they so believe without further investigations….
I love this poem it’s prodigious, written in an intelligent MANNER !!
That’s so RIGHT !