Zen Koans

two people are walking through the forest.
one sees an elephant through the trees,
he tells his friend to look over there, but from where he is standing he sees only a monkey, he tells his friend this but his friend sees only an elephant.

Which person is seeing reality?

neither.
with perspective, everything that seems real to someone is only theoretical.

If reality is subjective is truth also subjective?

What is truth but what we view through the curvature of our own eye?

Hmm… that monkey - is he clapping…? But with only one hand…? - if so - then that’s definately the real one.

Also - is it a pigmy elephant, or are there some really big trees around…?

Truth’s subjectivity depends on how good a liar you are.
And reality is a consensus of what you believe and what the monkey guy believes and what the elephant guy believes… Even more so if it gets on the telly.

the one who doesn’t have monkey or elephant shit on his shoes

-Imp

here’s the real kicker, let’s say they have bird shit on their shoes and neither one of them saw the bird.

:wink:

it’s a pink pygmy elephant of course!

If a monkey claps with one hand in the forest, and there’s no one around to see him clap with one hand in the forest, does he still clap with one hand in the forest? and what sound would that make anyways?