HPI<\/P>
KAUAI, HAWAII, September 30, 2004: In a search for a good rendition of the story of the blind men and the elephant, we came across this poem by American poet John Godfrey Saxe (1816-1887) based on the famous Hindu parable. The poem provides a metaphorical explanation as to how the descriptions in the world’s religions of the one Supreme Being that they all worship can so radically differ.
\n
\n It was six men of Indostan
\n To learning much inclined,
\n Who went to see the Elephant
\n (Though all of them were blind),
\n That each by observation
\n Might satisfy his mind.
\n
\n The First approached the Elephant,
\n And happening to fall
\n Against his broad and sturdy side,
\n At once began to bawl:
\n “God bless me! but the Elephant
\n Is very like a wall!”
\n
\n The Second, feeling of the tusk
\n Cried, “Ho! what have we here,
\n So very round and smooth and sharp?
\n To me ’tis mighty clear
\n This wonder of an Elephant
\n Is very like a spear!”
\n
\n The Third approached the animal,
\n And happening to take
\n The squirming trunk within his hands,
\n Thus boldly up he spake:
\n “I see,” quoth he, “the Elephant
\n Is very like a snake!”
\n
\n The Fourth reached out an eager hand,
\n And felt about the knee:
\n “What most this wondrous beast is like
\n Is mighty plain,” quoth he;
\n “‘Tis clear enough the Elephant
\n Is very like a tree!”
\n
\n The Fifth, who chanced to touch the ear,
\n Said: “E’en the blindest man
\n Can tell what this resembles most;
\n Deny the fact who can,
\n This marvel of an Elephant
\n Is very like a fan!”
\n
\n The Sixth no sooner had begun
\n About the beast to grope,
\n Than, seizing on the swinging tail
\n That fell within his scope.
\n “I see,” quoth he, “the Elephant
\n Is very like a rope!”
\n
\n And so these men of Indostan
\n Disputed loud and long,
\n Each in his own opinion
\n Exceeding stiff and strong,
\n Though each was partly in the right,
\n And all were in the wrong!
\n
\nMoral:
\n
\nSo oft in theologic wars,
\nThe disputants, I ween,
\nRail on in utter ignorance
\nOf what each other mean,
\nAnd prate about an Elephant
\nNot one of them has seen.
\n
\n
\n <\/P> <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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