![](https://s3.amazonaws.com/media-p.slid.es/uploads/775627/images/4472252/TITLE.png)
The Elephant Parable
Dialogue has the power to deepen
our awareness of reality.
![](https://s3.amazonaws.com/media-p.slid.es/uploads/775627/images/4472252/TITLE.png)
A colourful example of this insight is
an ancient Indian story around an elephant.
In the parable, a group of blind people surround
an elephant to learn about it’s shape.
![](https://s3.amazonaws.com/media-p.slid.es/uploads/775627/images/6328743/01.png)
After touching the elephant,
they compare their experiences:
![](https://s3.amazonaws.com/media-p.slid.es/uploads/775627/images/6328691/02.png)
“An elephant has the shape of a tree.”
says the person who touched it’s leg.
![](https://s3.amazonaws.com/media-p.slid.es/uploads/775627/images/6328694/03.png)
“Oh. No, no, an elephant is like a wall!”,
says the person who touched it’s side.
![](https://s3.amazonaws.com/media-p.slid.es/uploads/775627/images/6328695/04.png)
“No way, an elephant is like a snake!”
says the person who touched it’s trunk.
![](https://s3.amazonaws.com/media-p.slid.es/uploads/775627/images/6328697/05.png)
The people fight with each other about
who is right and who is wrong.
![](https://s3.amazonaws.com/media-p.slid.es/uploads/775627/images/6328710/06.png)
Until a wise man walks by who describes
the entire elephant and says:
![](https://s3.amazonaws.com/media-p.slid.es/uploads/775627/images/6328713/07.png)
“Each of you is correct! And each of you has only a partial perspective! You need each other to see the full picture!”
![](https://s3.amazonaws.com/media-p.slid.es/uploads/775627/images/6328741/09.png)
![](https://s3.amazonaws.com/media-p.slid.es/uploads/775627/images/4845273/LOGO_NUEVO_CENTRAL_Marron.png)