Knowledge and Half-knowledge

Four frogs sat upon a log that lay floating on the edge of a river. Suddenly the log was caught by the current and swept slowly down the stream. The frogs were delighted and absorbed, for never before had they sailed.

At length the first frog spoke and said “This is indeed a most marvelous log. It moves as if alive. No such log was every known before.”

Then the second frog spoke and said, “Nay, my friend, the log is like other logs, and does not move. It is the river that is walking to the sea and carries us and the log with it.”

And the third frog spoke and said, “It is neither the log nor the river that moves. The moving is in our thinking. For without thought nothing moves.”

And the three frogs began to wrangle about what was really moving. The quarrel grew hotter and louder but they could not agree.

Then they turned to the fourth frog who up to this time had been listening attentively but holding his peace and they asked his opinion.

And the fourth frog said “Each of you is right and none of you is wrong. The moving is in the log and the water and our thinking also.”

And the three frogs became very angry for none of them was willing to admit that his was not the whole truth and that the other two were not wholly wrong.

Then the strange thing happened. The three frogs got together and pushed the fourth frog off the log into the river.

And I for sure know how the fourth frog felt. In the country of blind, one eyed man is always assumed to be a mad man.

No person who is defensive even before listening to the answer, no person who is not open to newer and fresh perspectives, no person who is not open to listening anything which is contradictory to his/her belief system or expectations can ever learn. A really growing person is only one who is open to “doubting his doubts" and one who is ready to outgrow his limitations.

Till the mind is open to breaking its own shackles it’ll mislead us through anger towards the Truth disclosed and the person who talks about knowing the Truth. It also comes out as a statement “this is fine for sages and such people but for Ordinary people like us, this is not applicable” so on and so forth.

Be aware of this mind game. Just learn to look at your own thoughts, feelings (without stopping them or judging them). Just be aware!

I’ll go through my journey of self-enquiry from today with an open mind. Only those of you who are interested in experiencing the Truth need follow it. Each is given a choice to make. You have right to make yours.

revathi