The Blind Man's Stick
It's Thursday Tale Time (44/2024).
Drawing upon the vibrant storytelling tradition of the Parsis, Osho shared a memorable and thought-provoking narrative.
A blind man was crossing the desert with his friend. They were on separate journeys. Coincidentally, they met en route, and the sighted man offered to take the blind man with him. A few days of walking together deepened their friendship.
One morning, the blind man awoke early. He was searching for his walking stick. It was a desert night and cold days. Despite his best efforts, he was unsuccessful in locating the stick. There was a snake lying there which had shrunk and hardened due to the cold. He picked it up. He was grateful to God; though his old stick was gone, a far superior replacement—smoother, more beautiful—had been given to him. He offered a prayer of gratitude for the kindness he had been shown. Using the same stick, he prodded his friend, urging him to wake up because it was morning.
My friend, who can see, woke up. Upon seeing it, he was scared and inquired, “What is that you’re holding?” Beware: This is a venomous snake. “My friend,” the blind man said, “you’re calling my beautiful cane a snake out of envy!” If you want me to leave it, then you can pick it up. Just because I’m blind doesn’t mean I lack common sense.’
The man with eyes said, Have you gone mad? You must leave it right away. It is a snake and is a danger to life.’ The blind man laughed and said, You stayed with me for so many days, but you could not understand that I am also intelligent. I’ve lost my stick, but thankfully, God has provided me with a much more beautiful replacement, which you mistakenly identify as a snake.
The blind man, angry at the envy and jealousy of his friend, started on his way. In the fullness of time, the sun peeked through the clouds, ending the snake’s contraction and the chill that permeated its being. The snake came back to life and bit the blind man.
What message is conveyed in this story?
The story teaches a profound lesson about perception, trust, and the consequences of ignorance. The blind man mistook a snake for a stick due to his limited senses and stubbornly refused to trust his sighted friend’s warning. His inability to accept another’s perspective, fueled by anger and distrust, ultimately led to his downfall.
The story highlights the dangers of arrogance and mistrust. When we ignore the advice of those with better insight or broader perspective, we risk making grave mistakes. It also underscores the importance of humility and open-mindedness in understanding the world beyond our immediate experience.
Finally, it serves as a reminder that not everything that seems beautiful or beneficial is truly so. Wisdom lies in looking deeper, trusting those who guide us with genuine care, and avoiding decisions driven by ego or misunderstanding.
Our perception is clouded by the lens of our own identity, deeply held beliefs, and ingrained assumptions, distorting our view of reality. The more attached we are to our beliefs, the less receptive we become to others' advice; a closed mind stifles growth. Wisdom is not showed by a closed mind readily influenced by others' opinions. True wisdom involves carefully listening to and considering all viewpoints of others before making a decision, a process that minimizes future regret.