"Four blind men went to see an elephant. One touched the leg of the elephant, and said, "The elephant is like a pillar." The second touched the trunk, and said, "The elephant is like a thick stick or club." The third touched the belly, and said, "The elephant is like a big jar." The fourth touched the ears, and said, "The elephant is like a winnowing basket." Thus they began to dispute amongst themselves as to the figure of the elephant. A passer-by seeing them thus quarrelling, said, "What is it that you are disputing about?" They told him everything, and asked him to arbitrate. That man said, "None of you has seen the elephant. The elephant is not like a pillar, its legs are like pillars. It is not like a big water-vessel, its belly is like a water-vessel. It is not like a winnowing basket, its ears are like winnowing baskets. It is not like a thick stick or club, but its proboscis is like that. The elephant is the combination of all these." In the same manner those quarrel who have seen one aspect only of the Deity. ... Different creeds are but different paths to reach the Almighty."
Quote Details
Added by wikiquote-import-bot
Unverified quote
0 likes
Original Language: English
Available Languages (1)
Sources
Saying 6; this is a variant of widely used teaching anecdotes of India involving blind men and an elephant.
https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Ramakrishna
Revision History
No revisions have been submitted for this quote.
Categories
Ramakrishna
1836 – 1886
Hinduistischer Guru
155 quotes on TrueQuotesView all quotes by Ramakrishna →
Related Quotes
"Man cannot really help the world. God alone does that — He who has created the sun and the moon, who has put love for…"
"In the Kaliyuga, man, being totally dependent on food for life, cannot altogether shake off the idea that he is the b…"
"It is not good for ordinary people to say, "I am He." The waves belong to the water. Does the water belong to the wav…"
"Knowledge leads to unity, but Ignorance to diversity. So long as God seems to be outside and far away, there is ignor…"
"Meditate upon the Knowledge and Bliss Eternal, and you will also have bliss. The Bliss indeed is eternal, only it is …"
"Those who wish to attain God and progress in religious devotion, should particularly guard themselves against the sna…"
"Iron, after it is converted into gold by the touch of philosopher's stone, may be kept under the ground or thrown int…"
"It's enough to have faith in one aspect of God. You have faith in God without form. That is very good. But never get …"
"Chant the name of God and sing his glories unceasingly; and keep holy company. Now and then one should visit holy men…"
"God made me pass through the disciplines of various paths. First according to the Puranas, then according to the Tant…"