Maybe-ism???
Recently I read an article in The Straits Times when I was in Singapore courtesy of my employers. I must say unlike the MSM newspapers in Malaysia the papers in Singapore are much readable. I just dont have the time to read all the sections. A particular article caught my attention more since in it was a drawing of an elephant. The elepahant is one of the Hindu religion symbol and so I went through the article by one Gary Hyden titled "What's true and what's not?"
Gary Hyden is a freelance writer who specialises in education, science, philosopy, helath, well-being, travel and short fiction. Can access his blog here http://garyhaydenspopularphilosophyblog.blogspot.com/
The article goes like this
And so these men of Hindustan
Disputed loud and long,
Each in his own opinion
Exceeding stiff and strong,
Though each was partly in the right,
And all were in the wrong!
From The Blindmen And The Elephant by John Godfrey Saxe (1816-87)
I love myths, legends and parables. Recently, I came across a wonderful old tale which originated in India and has become part of the Hindu, Jain, Buddhist and Sufi religious traditions.
Here is how it goes:
Many years ago, there lived six blind men. One day, they heard that an elepehant had wandered into their village. As none of them had any idea what an elephant was, they decided to investigate.
One of the touched the beast's leg and declared 'Hey an elephant is like a pillar!'
Another touched its ear and said "No, It is like an enomours hand-fan."
The next man felt the animal's torso and insisted: "You're both wrong. An elephant is like a wall."
The others also examined the elephant and each formed a different opinion.
"An elephant is like a spear," said the fourth man, running his hands over a tusk.
"Nonsense! It's like a huge snake," said the fifth man, feeling the trunk.
"You're all crazy! An elephant is like a rope", exclaimed the sixth, who had grasped the tail.
The argument grew heated. Luckily, before they came to blows, a wise man happened to come along.
He explained that each of them had felt a different part of the beast and each had spoken the truth from his own perspective.
The parable has many interpretations.
The Hindu sage Ramakrichna Paramahamsa used it to warn against religious dogmatism, declaring: "in the same way, he who has seen the Lord in a particular way limits the Lord to that alone and thinks that He is nothing else.
The Buddha compared the blind men in the story to those preachers and scholars who, blinded by their ignorance and arrogance, will only ever see one side of a thing.
I like both of these interpretations.
But, to me, the parable speaks most strongly about everyday concerns. In particular, the tendency we all have, in any given situation, to think that we are right and everyone else is wrong.
I am right, you are wrong
I remember, in the early days of my marriage, being often surprised and sometimes irritated by my wife's inability to see when she was in the wrong. Even when it had seemed to me she was clearly in the wrong. It is difficult, after all this time, to remember details.
But say for example, she had become angry with me for watching TV when I had promised to clean the kitchen. I patiently explained to her that I had worked very hard all week; that I was feeling exhausted; and that I really needed to relax.
Yet still, against all justice and reason, she persisted in being annoyed. At the time, i felt sure that truth was on my side; that any impartial referee would judge the matter in my favour; that i was right and she was wrong.
It took me years to learn that there is no simple truth in such matters; that human interactions are complex and multifacted; and that my view of things, however right it may seem, will always be limited and incomplete.
Maybe-ism
All of this brings me to yet another interpretation of the parable of the blind men and the elephant. This one comes from Jainism, an ancient religious tradition from India. Vardhamana, a Jain philosopher, taught that all viewpoints are partial. Whatever world view we adobt, we ought to bear this in mind and should therefore precede our statements with a "maybe".
That is, we should start our sentences with: "Maybe this is the way it is...". This idea is known as syadvada, which is often translated as "maybe-ism".
The story of the blind men is very important in Jainism. It is used to illustrate the concept of syadvada and to teach that there may be some truth to what someone else says, even if we cannot see it ourselves.
Well above is the article..
I am sure we understand the article. Thats what I like to know, why some (many of us Malaysian I mean) want to start anything at all with a believe that they know that thing for sure. Is it so difficult to think that others might be right and we could be wrong. Is it so difficult to even accept the fact that we wouldnt know certain things and others would.
Look at all the politicians specially the rulling coalition! just read the interview of CSL with Malaysiakini who so 'brilliantly' said that the Chinese voters want to balance the opposition+governemnt by voting for the opposition and end up most of them voted for the opposition like in Sarawak election recently. Was it really the recent??? Doesnt he know that he is actually insulting people's intelligent. Anyway thats politicians... Samy was doing the same and look where is he and MIC now. Sometimes people are blind even though they are not and sometimes they want to be blind purposely and at the same time insulting everyone's else intelligent just becaouse they got no brain. The blindmen who guessed what is an elephant in the above article were better than these people, in my opinion.
People like to ASSUME things and often make an ASS of themselves. ASSUME makes an Ass out of U n Me! And if they ever watched the movie titled 'Under Seige 2' by Steven Seigel should know by now that ASSUMPTION is MOTHER OF ALL FXXXUPS!
I think 'Maybe-ism' is a good theory that should be taught in school and at least we should teach our children at home. Not sure how and what the teachers could teach them but at least it will teach them not to assume things and make them think that maybe they can be wrong in many things at least once in their life times.
Young son of my friend started being proud of his ability in mathematic subject and started talking big to his parents and teacher. Hmmmm great idea by the mother who wants to show him that he can be wrong... brought him to a 'kandang lembu' and asked the boy to count the cows! The boy, brilliant he may be but started crying since couldnt count the cows that were never stand still in a place! (Just waiting for the moment that i may have to use the same tactic to my boys!) Ok my friend now i have mentioned your story here, you may want to elaborate more on that or verify it.
Well 'maybe-ism', I have seen and even seeing daily people talking, thinking that they know things for sure. They just 'know it' somehow! Never think that assumptions they make could be wrong and could hurt others.
Lately the hot topic is the 'OWC' aka 'COW' like some of my FB friends like to call it. What give that woman Dr. (whatever her name is) right to think that woman need to be taught how to behave and obedient to their husbands? Does she think all men want a prostitute for a wife? If they want one wouldnt they go for one and just get it done with?!?!?! Good partner in bed definetely a plus in a marriage. But one thing she doesnt understand (MAYBE okay) is not all men are looking for sex machine. For all I know it may scare them off a bit...ANYWAY if she ever thought that women maybe as brilliant as any other men in the world she wouldnt even be thinking this way. Instead of using the 'maybe-ism' theory she just choose to think that she know things. More trouble.... Of course people will want to know if there are going to be paractical session in the club!!! And men being men they will go anyway if they want to.
Ops I am doing it again... deviating from the topic. Anyway I just expect people to be a bit considerate towards others and maybe towards themselves by just thinking that they could be wrong anytimes. Being in the maritime industry last 20yrs I know one thing that I could be wrong anytime anywhere.. I learn to accept the fact that I am not perfect. Sometimes the argument that even God is not perfect could just be accepted with a 'maybe' AND of course with an open mind...
I cant believe this article took me long time to complete and not sure if i have completed it...planning to continue when and if i have more ideas...
BRGDS
Gary Hyden is a freelance writer who specialises in education, science, philosopy, helath, well-being, travel and short fiction. Can access his blog here http://garyhaydenspopularphilosophyblog.blogspot.com/
The article goes like this
And so these men of Hindustan
Disputed loud and long,
Each in his own opinion
Exceeding stiff and strong,
Though each was partly in the right,
And all were in the wrong!
From The Blindmen And The Elephant by John Godfrey Saxe (1816-87)
I love myths, legends and parables. Recently, I came across a wonderful old tale which originated in India and has become part of the Hindu, Jain, Buddhist and Sufi religious traditions.
Here is how it goes:
Many years ago, there lived six blind men. One day, they heard that an elepehant had wandered into their village. As none of them had any idea what an elephant was, they decided to investigate.
One of the touched the beast's leg and declared 'Hey an elephant is like a pillar!'
Another touched its ear and said "No, It is like an enomours hand-fan."
The next man felt the animal's torso and insisted: "You're both wrong. An elephant is like a wall."
The others also examined the elephant and each formed a different opinion.
"An elephant is like a spear," said the fourth man, running his hands over a tusk.
"Nonsense! It's like a huge snake," said the fifth man, feeling the trunk.
"You're all crazy! An elephant is like a rope", exclaimed the sixth, who had grasped the tail.
The argument grew heated. Luckily, before they came to blows, a wise man happened to come along.
He explained that each of them had felt a different part of the beast and each had spoken the truth from his own perspective.
The parable has many interpretations.
The Hindu sage Ramakrichna Paramahamsa used it to warn against religious dogmatism, declaring: "in the same way, he who has seen the Lord in a particular way limits the Lord to that alone and thinks that He is nothing else.
The Buddha compared the blind men in the story to those preachers and scholars who, blinded by their ignorance and arrogance, will only ever see one side of a thing.
I like both of these interpretations.
But, to me, the parable speaks most strongly about everyday concerns. In particular, the tendency we all have, in any given situation, to think that we are right and everyone else is wrong.
I am right, you are wrong
I remember, in the early days of my marriage, being often surprised and sometimes irritated by my wife's inability to see when she was in the wrong. Even when it had seemed to me she was clearly in the wrong. It is difficult, after all this time, to remember details.
But say for example, she had become angry with me for watching TV when I had promised to clean the kitchen. I patiently explained to her that I had worked very hard all week; that I was feeling exhausted; and that I really needed to relax.
Yet still, against all justice and reason, she persisted in being annoyed. At the time, i felt sure that truth was on my side; that any impartial referee would judge the matter in my favour; that i was right and she was wrong.
It took me years to learn that there is no simple truth in such matters; that human interactions are complex and multifacted; and that my view of things, however right it may seem, will always be limited and incomplete.
Maybe-ism
All of this brings me to yet another interpretation of the parable of the blind men and the elephant. This one comes from Jainism, an ancient religious tradition from India. Vardhamana, a Jain philosopher, taught that all viewpoints are partial. Whatever world view we adobt, we ought to bear this in mind and should therefore precede our statements with a "maybe".
That is, we should start our sentences with: "Maybe this is the way it is...". This idea is known as syadvada, which is often translated as "maybe-ism".
The story of the blind men is very important in Jainism. It is used to illustrate the concept of syadvada and to teach that there may be some truth to what someone else says, even if we cannot see it ourselves.
Well above is the article..
I am sure we understand the article. Thats what I like to know, why some (many of us Malaysian I mean) want to start anything at all with a believe that they know that thing for sure. Is it so difficult to think that others might be right and we could be wrong. Is it so difficult to even accept the fact that we wouldnt know certain things and others would.
Look at all the politicians specially the rulling coalition! just read the interview of CSL with Malaysiakini who so 'brilliantly' said that the Chinese voters want to balance the opposition+governemnt by voting for the opposition and end up most of them voted for the opposition like in Sarawak election recently. Was it really the recent??? Doesnt he know that he is actually insulting people's intelligent. Anyway thats politicians... Samy was doing the same and look where is he and MIC now. Sometimes people are blind even though they are not and sometimes they want to be blind purposely and at the same time insulting everyone's else intelligent just becaouse they got no brain. The blindmen who guessed what is an elephant in the above article were better than these people, in my opinion.
People like to ASSUME things and often make an ASS of themselves. ASSUME makes an Ass out of U n Me! And if they ever watched the movie titled 'Under Seige 2' by Steven Seigel should know by now that ASSUMPTION is MOTHER OF ALL FXXXUPS!
I think 'Maybe-ism' is a good theory that should be taught in school and at least we should teach our children at home. Not sure how and what the teachers could teach them but at least it will teach them not to assume things and make them think that maybe they can be wrong in many things at least once in their life times.
Young son of my friend started being proud of his ability in mathematic subject and started talking big to his parents and teacher. Hmmmm great idea by the mother who wants to show him that he can be wrong... brought him to a 'kandang lembu' and asked the boy to count the cows! The boy, brilliant he may be but started crying since couldnt count the cows that were never stand still in a place! (Just waiting for the moment that i may have to use the same tactic to my boys!) Ok my friend now i have mentioned your story here, you may want to elaborate more on that or verify it.
Well 'maybe-ism', I have seen and even seeing daily people talking, thinking that they know things for sure. They just 'know it' somehow! Never think that assumptions they make could be wrong and could hurt others.
Lately the hot topic is the 'OWC' aka 'COW' like some of my FB friends like to call it. What give that woman Dr. (whatever her name is) right to think that woman need to be taught how to behave and obedient to their husbands? Does she think all men want a prostitute for a wife? If they want one wouldnt they go for one and just get it done with?!?!?! Good partner in bed definetely a plus in a marriage. But one thing she doesnt understand (MAYBE okay) is not all men are looking for sex machine. For all I know it may scare them off a bit...ANYWAY if she ever thought that women maybe as brilliant as any other men in the world she wouldnt even be thinking this way. Instead of using the 'maybe-ism' theory she just choose to think that she know things. More trouble.... Of course people will want to know if there are going to be paractical session in the club!!! And men being men they will go anyway if they want to.
Ops I am doing it again... deviating from the topic. Anyway I just expect people to be a bit considerate towards others and maybe towards themselves by just thinking that they could be wrong anytimes. Being in the maritime industry last 20yrs I know one thing that I could be wrong anytime anywhere.. I learn to accept the fact that I am not perfect. Sometimes the argument that even God is not perfect could just be accepted with a 'maybe' AND of course with an open mind...
I cant believe this article took me long time to complete and not sure if i have completed it...planning to continue when and if i have more ideas...
BRGDS
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