[not2too]

Originally Posted by Drifter

A community of blind men once heard that an extraordinary beast called an elephant had been brought into the country. Since they did not know what it looked like and had never heard its name, they resolved to obtain a picture, and the knowledge they desired, by feeling the beast - the only possibility that was open to them! They went in search of the elephant, and when they had found it, they felt its body. One touched its leg, the other a tusk, the third an ear, and in the belief that they now knew the elephant, they returned home. But when they were questioned by the other blind men, their answers differed. The one who had felt the leg maintained that the elephant was nothing other than a pillar, extremely rough to the touch, and yet strangely soft. The one who had caught hold of the tusk denied this and described the elephant as, hard and smooth, with nothing soft or rough about it, more over the beast was by no means as stout as a pillar, but rather had the shape of a post. The third, who had held the ear in his hands, spoke: "By my faith, it is both soft and rough." Thus he agreed with one of the others, but went on to say: Nevertheless, it is neither like a post nor a pillar, but like a broad, thick piece of leather." Each was right in a certain sense, since each of them communicated that part of the elephant he had comprehended, but none was able describe the elephant as it really was; for all three of them were unable to comprehend the entire form of the elephant.

The legend was also an illustration of the inadequacy of human reason. Likening those who cannot agree about the eternally immutable God, those in whom the spiritual eye has not yet awakened, to a group of people who seek an elephant in a dark room, and try to determine its appearance by touch alone. Naturally, each one comes to a different conclusion, according to the part of the animal’s body that they feel.

The elephant was in a dark house; some Hindus had brought it for exhibition.
In order to see it, many people were going, every one, into that darkness.
As seeing it with the eye was impossible, [each one] was feeling it in the dark with the palm of his hand..
The hand of one fell on its trunk; he said: "This creature is like a water-pipe."
The hand of another touched its ear: to him it appeared to be like a fan.
Since another handled its leg, he said: "I found the elephant's shape to be like a pillar."
Another laid his hand on its back: he said, "Truly, this elephant was like a throne."
Similarly, whenever anyone heard [a description of the elephant]. he understood [it only in respect of] the part that he had touched.
On account of the [diverse] place [object] of view, their statements differed. If there had been a candle in each one's hand, the difference would have gone out of their words.

So...obviously, and often stated...since our sensory systems are limited to a narrow range of wavelengths...i.e. we are functionally "blind"...how can we say that what we perceive is "reality"...we're not even close in so many ways...

not2too

[melanie]

When you look at this, you probably see a triangle. There is not one there!
The way the circle parts are cut out, make us think there is a triangle there even though there isn’t any!




Things are never what they appear to be, and what's always fascinated me is ...where the heck does space come from?
and what's more weird is what is it?
that's quite a weird thought in a weird sort of way!! ...nevermind !

must be a dream....can't be anything else.

[Drifter]

Nope, I see a Pacman squaredance. dosedo

Originally Posted by melanie

When you look at this, you probably see a triangle. There is not one there!
The way the circle parts are cut out, make us think there is a triangle there even though there isn’t any!




Things are never what they appear to be, and what's always fascinated me is ...where the heck does space come from?
and what's more weird is what is it?
that's quite a weird thought in a weird sort of way!! ...nevermind !

must be a dream....can't be anything else.

[melanie]

Originally Posted by Drifter

Nope, I see a Pacman squaredance. dosedo

LOL drifter .. got dancing on the brain huh?
ps.what's a dosedo?

[Drifter]

A Do` Se` Do` ?

Your the-one-that-I-Love~~~ whoo-whoo-whoo-honey

Your the-one-that-I-Love~~~who-who-who.

The-one-I-neeeeed~~~~

Oh yes indeeeed~~~ . . .Olivia Newton-John ?



[a round-about?]

Originally Posted by melanie

LOL drifter .. got dancing on the brain huh?
ps.what's a dosedo?

[not2too]

Originally Posted by melanie

LOL drifter .. got dancing on the brain huh?
ps.what's a dosedo?

Nature's illusions...

[Drifter]

Took a little doing but with some help I found my -analog- to inert here.

From another thread, "Paradox of Potential" by Analog, Thank you Sir.

The only roadblocks in my mind are thrown up when I can't describe something by the interactions of fundamental entities. I think the system that best reflects our world, while making the fewest presumptions is probably the closest to being right.

If the universal framework we seek could be captured as a single image, and we all painted a portrait of it, the one who's painting best reflected it, while using the least amount of colors, would be the one I would want to hang on the wall of my mind. In my opinion, the painter who realised, that all of the seemingly endless colors that make up our world was merely the effect created by mixing only a fundamental few, would have the best chance of matching all of the many shades of existence.

This is the logic that I use to probe the world around me, and I wanted to share it with you, hoping that it will help you in your ever important journey of trying to become a true artist of our world. At the least, I truly believe that you will find understanding within your own mind. The hardest part of your journey will be when others view the portrait you've spent so much time painting, paying so much attention to every curve, shade and detail, and they fail to see its true beauty, as if viewing it through colorblind eyes.

I guess what I'm trying to say is, don't paint your portrait to hang it on the wall of someone elses mind. Paint it to beautify your own wall. Paint because you love to paint, and paint because of the breathtaking view before you, even if your the only one standing on top of the intellectual mountain from which you look down at the universal landscape below. Perhaps, someday your renderings will allow those, who are lesser climbers, to get a glimpse of the view from the top.

Never stop painting.

If you believe in your own words, and the universe is truly trying to learn and explore itself, then you, my friend, can be proud of the life you've led, because you have done that which is your essence, as you've devoted your precious time to learn the nature of the very thing that brought you forth.

I can only hope that I have contributed to the pallet of colors, which resides within your mind, in some way. If I can be of any more help, don't hesitate to contact me.

Keep painting my friend,

Tim

All observable phenomenon in nature are merely the necessary universal steps taken to maintain equilibrium by means of imbalance.
Until all things are explained, nothing can truly be explained, due to the relativity of everything.
-analog-

Quite a Kaleidoscope of fragmented perspectives today, eh. All very beautiful I might add.

D.

Originally Posted by not2too

Nature's illusions...

[melanie]

Originally Posted by not2too

Nature's illusions...

An Albino Peacock



Nice plumage.

[melanie]

If you believe in your own words, and the universe is truly trying to learn and explore itself, then you, my friend, can be proud of the life you've led, because you have done that which is your essence, as you've devoted your precious time to learn the nature of the very thing that brought you forth.

When i read this, i was absolutely moved to tears, wonderfully written and so beautiful an imagination, thankyou to who ever wrote this.

I personally can relate to this writing, i have endured enormous suffering, and i've also been blessed with good fortune too.

Mostly i wouldn't have had it any other way, i am so happy and glad to be me and i'm happy i've had the life i've had.

It's been the most amazing and beautiful adventure .. the time of my life.

It's been my life...... it is still my life, albeit still under construction ... a unique masterpiece unfolding!

Thanks drifter for finding this gem document.
It's really made my day.


love
melanie.

[analog]

Originally Posted by Drifter

Quite a Kaleidoscope of fragmented perspectives today, eh. All very beautiful I might add.

Originally Posted by melanie

When i read this, i was absolutely moved to tears, wonderfully written and so beautiful an imagination, thankyou to who ever wrote this.

I personally can relate to this writing, i have endured enormous suffering, and i've also been blessed with good fortune too.

Mostly i wouldn't have had it any other way, i am so happy and glad to be me and i'm happy i've had the life i've had.

It's been the most amazing and beautiful adventure .. the time of my life.

It's been my life...... it is still my life, albeit still under construction ... a unique masterpiece unfolding!

Thanks drifter for finding this gem document.
It's really made my day.


love
melanie.

Melanie and Drifter,

Thank you both for the kind words. I’m honored to know that my simple thoughts will ever be entwined with the souls of two great people such as you.

Mel, perhaps it was during the times of your greatest suffering that the most bold colors were added to the portrait that is your life, whereby the masterpiece framed by your mirror wouldn't be nearly as beautiful had it not been for the many brushstrokes of adversity which added such depth and meaning to what began as just a clean white canvas.

Perhaps life would have been easier without the darkened colors of pain, but it is the contrast of this darkness that allows for the true colors of joy to stand out so brightly.