Recently a story was sent to us appreciating the moral teaching of it. Initially,I too appreciated it. But a further reflection forced me to see the contradiction in it.
A father sent four of his sons to observe nature in each season separately. Each of them narrated what they have seen is correct, according to their perspective. For example, the son sent in spring naturally saw only flowers and not a dry tree. Likewise, the one who was sent in autumn saw in another way. If the father wanted to help them to understand life (or season here) in its totality, he should have sent them, all four, in all the four seasons and then should have asked to present their observation. Whereas explaining them that what they have observed is not the whole picture, but only a part of it, is not correct. Because they were sent during a particular season and as far as I know, what they have seen in that particular season is complete in itself.
Let me come to the point of human life. No one can see and learn life in its totality only by observing all the parts of life. Because each season is complete. And who failed in one season, may recover later or who has done well in one season may fail in another. For example, a student who failed to do justice to her vocation as a student and wasted her time in studies may come up successfully later in life. Though the moral of the story is correct that one should not judge another person partly observing one area or season of life, the illustration of sending the four sons in different seasons and then telling them not to judge based on what they don’t see or know is not correct.
Sometimes we use a few illustrations without knowing their limitations. Of course, the moral of every limitation is that one should not stretch the illustration beyond its limit and only focus on the main teaching. But one should be careful not to use wrong kinds of illustrations to give a correct moral teaching. In this story too, I see the pictures alone look good and not the message.
Db
August 9, 2013. Gurukulam. ###
Recently a story was sent to us appreciating the moral teaching of it. Initially,I too appreciated it. But a further reflection forced me to see the contradiction in it.
A father sent four of his sons to observe nature in each season separately. Each of them narrated what they have seen is correct, according to their perspective. For example, the son sent in spring naturally saw only flowers and not a dry tree. Likewise, the one who was sent in autumn saw in another way. If the father wanted to help them to understand life (or season here) in its totality, he should have sent them, all four, in all the four seasons and then should have asked to present their observation. Whereas explaining them that what they have observed is not the whole picture, but only a part of it, is not correct. Because they were sent during a particular season and as far as I know, what they have seen in that particular season is complete in itself.
Let me come to the point of human life. No one can see and learn life in its totality only by observing all the parts of life. Because each season is complete. And who failed in one season, may recover later or who has done well in one season may fail in another. For example, a student who failed to do justice to her vocation as a student and wasted her time in studies may come up successfully later in life. Though the moral of the story is correct that one should not judge another person partly observing one area or season of life, the illustration of sending the four sons in different seasons and then telling them not to judge based on what they don’t see or know is not correct.
Sometimes we use a few illustrations without knowing their limitations. Of course, the moral of every limitation is that one should not stretch the illustration beyond its limit and only focus on the main teaching. But one should be careful not to use wrong kinds of illustrations to give a correct moral teaching. In this story too, I see the pictures alone look good and not the message.
Db
August 9, 2013. Gurukulam. ###
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