5 Blind Men touch an elephant
Today, they open their eyes...
There’s an old Vedic and Hindu story about five blind men who each touch an elephant and attempt to describe what they perceive.
The first blind man touches the elephant’s leg and describes it as a tree trunk.
The second blind man touches the elephant’s tail and describes it as a rope.
The third blind man touches the elephant’s tusk and describes it as a large bone.
The fourth blind man touches the elephant’s belly and describes it as a wall.
The fifth blind man touches the elephant’s trunk and describes it as a snake.
These five blind men are said to represent the major religions and science. Each touches a deep part of the truth, but none can perceive the entire picture. The story illustrates that while all belief systems contain truth, they can only describe the fragment they have access to. They are unable to see the parts others are touching, let alone the larger reality they are collectively encountering.
While this story has been told for thousands of years, today we live in the middle of spiritual renaissance. Mystics from diverse traditions are beginning to interact, sit together, and learn from one another.
Today, the five blind men are opening their eyes. They are not only seeing the larger animal they are touching but, more importantly, they are seeing each other. They are recognizing that each is describing a part of the truth revealed through their unique practices.
The elephant is becoming clearer each day as mystics, scientists, as holy people begin to converse, collaborate, and explore the world through one another’s lenses.
We are wiring up monks and samurai to EEG machines. Amazonian elders are meeting with elders from tribes on the other side of the world. Songs and ceremonies from distant lands are being sung together. Prayers are being woven into a unified chorus, and scientists are finding ways to articulate consciousness and the great mystery.
An old saying goes, “Where religions differ, mystics agree.”
You can view the state of the world as chaotic and tumultuous, as though we’re careening toward disaster. Or you can see it as the end of an old worldview—one rooted in isolated religions and ethnocentrism—and the birth of a new one, where all the blind men gain their sight. When great cultures and deeply held beliefs collide, it feels like chaos because the old must give way to the new.
Without airplanes, cell phones, and the internet, this convergence would not have been possible. These innovations are allowing ancient prophecies—of a time when we become one harmonious tribe—to come to life. It might feel surreal to see Amazonian leaders in the Arctic, Kogi elders in New York City, or Tantric mystics sharing stages with swamis and rabbis. Yet these gatherings are powerful and vital. Cultures hidden in the farthest corners of the world hold knowledge that can solve some of our most pressing problems. As they begin to communicate, pray, and work together, they are weaving a new fabric of spirit and belief.
If living in this time feels overwhelming, remember that creation is messy, endings are chaotic, and birth is never easy. We are on the cusp of a new worldview. If you’re reading this, you are likely playing a role in creating the connective tissue that binds the world’s most powerful stories into a new, unified, and harmonious narrative. We’re learning how to play together, how to create harmony. To do this, we must learn each other’s songs, listen to each other’s prayers, and understand how each tradition accesses wisdom. We are the great weaver generation, and you are a weaver of worlds.
You might ask, “What about dictators and fundamentalist movements?” See them as the dying gasps of an old system clinging to the past. The world is moving forward without hesitation. Hidden mystics are stepping into the light. Secret teachings are no longer secret. Ancient medicines are becoming accessible. Languages are being decoded and translated. What an incredible time to be alive! But no old system dies gracefully. No one relinquishes power without a fight.
Traditions adapt to modernity, staying alive by shifting to meet the needs of the present. This is a massive transformation, felt deeply by many elders. It’s okay to feel fear in the face of so much change. But know this: through this transformation, the world we envision is coming to life. This change has been spoken of for ages. It’s been unfolding for a long time, and it’s only just begun.
Today, the blind men have begun to open their eyes. Maybe you can join them. See the truths held by all traditions. Experience this unfolding unity as we learn to move together as one.
That whole idea of “we’re all one”? It’s really starting to happen, isn’t it?
Amen to that