The Truth About Elephants
Dear friends,
This is for all of you sitting around wondering about elephants. But have no fear: we promise not to turn this blog into a study of zoology. Read on... if you dare!
There's a parable I have always loved. Six blind men are wandering through the jungle (not actually recommended given their condition—it's just a parable). They came upon an elephant and, having heard of them, were anxious to learn more.
The first felt a leg and said, "Oh, I see. An elephant is like a tree trunk." The next grabbed the tail and exclaimed that the first guy was completely wrong. "You fool! An elephant is like a rope." The third felt an ear and pointed out the first two guys were way off the mark because an elephant is really like a big fan. The fourth felt a tusk and said, "I have no idea how you can all hold such silly beliefs. It's more like marble than anything else." You get the idea...
I am amazed at the surety most folks have given a little bit of knowledge or experience. "Always sure and sometimes right" comes to mind.
If you knew that you had been slipped a hallucinogenic drug, you might well be less sure of your perceptions. Well, we have been slipped such a drug! It's called maya: the ultimate delusion in yoga philosophy. Our thoughts are buffeted about by our fears and desires. We tend to see the world we want it to be and not the way it is. That's a natural state and the whole of the spiritual path is to clear our vision so we can see things as they truly are: with Spirit at the heart of everything.
As Socrates stated: True wisdom comes from recognizing the limits of your own knowledge. This makes the acknowledgment of ignorance the starting point for genuine inquiry and learning.
It's a bit like downhill skiing: full effort, working hard, and being awake to every nuance of the hill. Overly committed can find you, as they say, skiing out over your skis, which can get you in trouble. Full energy, but with open eyes, ready to take in new information at a moment's notice. A tricky balance, but worth the practice and effort if you want to ski.
May we each ski through our lives with great energy and joy, tuning in sensitively to each curve life brings to us. The hardest mountains are sometimes the most rewarding when we get back to the ski lodge.
Blessings,
David G., manager
For the staff at East West