Future past present tense
The other week I presented a version of a parable called “the blind men and an elephant” which was written in a poem by John Godfrey Sze.
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Well today I’d like to present another version of the same parable which goes back to the time of Bhudda.
The story goes, a group of disciples went to see the Buddha seeking clarification.
Their minds were burdened by a perplexing question and they were in a quandary as to what the truth was.
One of the disciples told the Buddha that in the Savatthi, the area they were in India, there were many wandering hermits and scholars.
For some time these hermits and scholars were indulging in constant dispute about infinity and eternity.
Some firmly believed the soul dies with the body when it dies. And some were equally adamant the soul lives forever in eternity.
Thus the disciples posed the question, “oh wise one, what would you say concerning them?”
It is often said that the Buddha would never give you a black and white answer, or a straight-forward answer that anybody could just follow without much thought.
He has been quoted as saying, “do not believe what I say out of respect, but believe what I say because it makes sense to you.”
So the story goes on that instead of answering the question directly, the Buddha told the disciples the parable of the blind men and the elephant.
In this version the story purportedly happened in Savatthi and the Rajah (king) of Savatthi was the wise person who adjudicated over the blind men and declared that each was partly right but all wrong.
Then the Exalted One rendered the meaning (of infinity and eternity) by uttering thus,
“oh how they cling and wrangle, some who claim,
for preachers and monks the honoured name,
For quarrelling each to his view they cling,
Such folks see only one side of things.”
Sometimes I think, wouldn’t it be wonderful if everybody could see everybody else’s view and resolve – or at least accept – their differences.
Day after day our politicians are shouting at each other, hammering down points that often don’t have bearing on what they are debating about.
To think that we are indirectly rewarding them with a not ungenerous salary.
An even bigger wish would be to see leaders of the world have the ability to see beyond what is right in front of them: beyond the trunk or ear, leg or tail of the proverbial elephant.
It all boils down to bias. As I said earlier, bias is an inclination or prejudice for or against person/s, opinion in a way that is considered to be unfair.
I do not wish to dwell on the political side of the argument, so let’s concentrate on relaxation, focus on the future past the present tense.
If we look back at the wishes I had in the last paragraph, we have to accept that there is very little that we can do to change our world leaders.
However, there is a lot we can do to change ourselves, our inner selves.
As I said the other week, we need to see beyond our eyes see, hear beyond what our ears hear and feel beyond what the hands can touch.
On the practical side our relaxation practice involves the various ‘A’s.
We note what we observe, that is noting what comes to your awareness or attention.
We learn not to immediately Act on what we observe without Analysing or Assessing what we observe.
We ask ourselves how our observation Affects us. Does it annoy or aggravate us?
After a careful assessment we often arrive at a conclusion of a less aggravating – or even not aggravating at all – perception.
Either way, we can Acknowledge the perception and we can Accommodate the initial observation into our Acceptance.
I would be the first to admit that it is not easy, but you must agree that it is that simple.
But wait, there is more.
Not only is it simple, it is doable.
To assist in accepting what you observe we also do some exercise in our relaxation practice. This comprises breathing and muscle exercise.
Yes, you actually do some physical (breathing and muscle) exercise to relax.
More importantly though, it is a way to discipline our minds to see things as they are, not as our eyes, ears or hands tell us they might be.
Failing that, well just sing with me, listen to what I tell you.
I promise I’ll wake you up at the end of the session. Nobody has ever been left in the room.
Until next time.
Lakieus a recently retired medical doctor who hosts Lakie’s Larrikins.
He runs a relaxation class each Wednesday at 2pm in the Octec building in Rankin Street (opposite the old Woolworths).
The class is free to participants.
