Each of us is Distinguished by our Capacity for Self Deception.

The story of the blind men and an elephant appears to have originated in South Asia. It has been attributed to the Muslims, Jainists, Buddhists, and Hindus, and has been used by all those groups. The best-known version attributed to an individual in the modern day is the 19th Century poem by John Godfrey Saxe.

In various versions of the tale, a group of blind men (or men in the dark) touch an elephant to learn what it is like. Each one touches a different part, but only one part, such as the side or the tusk. They then compare notes on what they felt, and learn they are in complete disagreement. The story is used to indicate that reality may be viewed differently depending upon one's perspective, showing how absolute truths may be relative; the deceptive world of half-truths.

A Jain version of the story says that six blind men were asked to determine what an elephant looked like by feeling different parts of the elephant's body.

The blind man who feels a leg says the elephant is like a pillar; the one who feels the tail says the elephant is like a rope; the one who feels the trunk says the elephant is like a tree branch; the one who feels the ear says the elephant is like a hand fan; the one who feels the belly says the elephant is like a wall; and the one who feels the tusk says the elephant is like a solid pipe. A wise man explains that all of the men are right. The reason every one of you is telling it differently is because each one touched a different part of the elephant. So, actually the elephant has all the features mentioned.

This is used to illustrate the principle of living in harmony with people who have different belief systems, and that truth can be stated in different ways.

In a Buddhist version of the Blind Men and the Elephant, Buddha tells the story of a raja who had six blind men gathered together to examine the elephant. "When the blind men had felt the elephant, the raja went to each of them and said to each, 'Well, blind man, have you seen the elephant? Tell me, what sort of thing is an elephant?' They assert the elephant is like a pot (head), winnowing basket (ear), ploughshare (tusk), plough (trunk), granary (body), pillar (foot), mortar (back), pestle (tail), or brush (tip of the tail).

The men come to blows, which delights the raja. The raja says:
O how they cling and wrangle, some who claim
For preacher and monk the honored name!
For, quarreling, each to his view they cling.
Such folk see only one side of a thing.

One of the most famous versions of the 19th Century was the poem "The Blind Men and the Elephant" by John Godfrey Saxe (1816-1887).
The poem begins
It was six men of Indostan
To learning much inclined,
Who went to see the Elephant
(Though all of them were blind),
That each by observation
Might satisfy his mind
They conclude that the elephant is like a wall, snake, spear, tree, fan, or rope, depending upon where they touch. They have a heated debate that does not come to physical violence. But in Saxe's version, the conflict is never resolved.
Moral:
So oft in theologic wars,
The disputants, I ween,
Rail on in utter ignorance
Of what each other mean,
And prate about an Elephant
Not one of them has seen!

I personally do not claim to see and fully understand what the Elephant is. My belief system is true in my mind, but I allow others to have a belief system which may differ from mine which I understand to be true to them. I happen to believe different personal truths can co-exist if they are not exclusive, especially with respect to religion. I realize telling the Story of the Blind Men and the Elephant will not enlighten anyone who cannot think beyond the leg, or ear, or tusk that they 'know' or have been taught encompasses the entirety of the 'truth'. As I said, I failed to teach, guide, mentally expand or enlighten my debate partner although I tried my best. My position was not that I was right and she was wrong, rather that we could both allow others to have different personal truths. What I did prove was that I could not lead or guide her and that she could not follow me, a valuable lesson. And yes, I thought she was well worth the effort. I wish her well in her search for happiness.

THE LAST ROSE

One Rose remains, I found it today…

This one was red changing to yellow…

Every room in my house had one…

Each was placed in a tall shot glass…

A rose means different things to different people…

I had carefully selected these roses…

Each one was perfect…

Together they seemed too much…

So I used them to fill my house…

Each would be found in turn…

Each had a message…

Each was fresh and alive…

Each smelled sweet…

Each was beautiful…

Each was vibrant…

Each had soft petals…

Velvet to the touch…

Each hinted of what was possible…

One was delivered in person…

It was the first to be discarded…

The others have since found their way to the city dump…

Only one remains, brittle and shattered…

A dried husk of what it promised…

I sometimes think of the roses in my life…

And wonder how something so beautiful…

Could become something undesirable…

I know the rose itself is fleeting…

It is the plant which must be cherished…

It must be nurtured through the hard times…

It must be protected and cared for…

Effort is needed for it to become all that it can be…

And it will reward me with beauty and satisfaction…

I think of all the roses I have met…

And it must be...

That I have yet to meet the rose that needs my care.

ESCAPE

Just close your eyes for a second...

And feel me standing behind you...

Pressed against you...

With a breast in each hand...

And my hard cock grinding against the crease of
your ass...

And one hand slides up to grab your throat...

And turn your head to make an earlobe accessible to my tongue...

And the side of your neck...

Which I lick, slowly...

And the other hand slides down your belly...

Toward the source of our pleasure...

And holds you, with a firm promise of later!

but whose heart has touched mine....

Hmmm, so a great reward is worth considerable effort and even inconvenience to me to get the exact thing I desire ... The amount of effort and inconvenience I am willing to expend is directly influenced by the value of the object of my desire. This leads to my philosophy on a possible Long Distance Relationship. I do not want to play, practice, experiment, or make do with what might be available until something better comes along. I have specific needs and wants and have no interest in settling. I plan to do this only once more. This object of my desire has extreme value to me.

What are the odds that my permanent partner will be physically located next door, or within my neighborhood or on my side of the city? So far pretty slim. I seek a mental connection which is not generic at all. It will be quite specific to a unique individual. Even if my permanent partner is in my city, we will have issues of how to combine or choose between personal possessions, which residence to end up at, and whether one of us has to make a job change for convenience and the good of the pair. But all of those issues exist in any eventual pairing, REGARDLESS OF DISTANCE. The greatest obstacle in my search is finding the right lady, not deciding which couch to keep, or who needs to change a job, or deciding which location will be the best for both of us. Yes there are additional hardships involved with long distance relationships. Additional costs and visits, and less in-person time to get to know each other. But there is also a larger pool of potential candidates and modern methods of communication. I hope I am worth some additional effort and hardship to the Lady of my Dreams. I know she has extreme value to me. And if I am not worth extra effort for her, then I immediately know she is not for me. For the O Ring is the prize of the contest, and to win your quest for peace and happiness, you must secure your prize at all costs.

My Lady is Well Worth any Hardship!

Some years ago, as a trainee in my long term career, I had to arrange and make my first travel plans by plane. And yes there were jet engines at the time, in fact the workhorse of the industry was the Boeing 727 (So There!). I had to go from Chicago to Washington DC for extended training. My trainer told me there were two airports there and it did not matter which airport I used as a destination. So I called the airline and made my reservations. I carefully explained to the airline person the days I needed and that I wanted to arrive at Dulles airport or Washington National, I really did not care which. The lady I was talking to was from the south and she told me the possible arrival times and confirmed my reservation for a trip to Dulles. I got to the Chicago airport in plenty of time, got my ticket, went to the gate, and waited for the departure. I was looking over my ticket and noticed it departed from Chicago with an arrival at DFW airport. Probably everyone reading this now knows that DFW is Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas. The lady helping me with the initial reservation was from somewhere in the south ~ she pronounced Dallas the same way I pronounced Dulles. So ok, Ha! Ha! I raced and got it corrected and continued on with a long and successful career ... but think about it some more, this person knew the destinations she was talking about ... and she actually thought it did not matter to me whether I was flying East, or West. It made perfect sense to her that I was fine with ending up thousands of miles apart in my two stated potential destinations. What could have possibly been her common denominator with the two destinations? I still have no answer, but I assume she was capable and intelligent enough to have her job and deal with the public. I have often thought about this event though, as it demonstrates differing perspectives and thought processes, with the outcome being a breakdown in communication.

This brings me to an earlier topic concerning my process for separating wheat from chaff. Unless you have somehow acquired knowledge of an individual elsewhere by happenstance in the forums, or chat, or comments in a blog, you only have their own written word of who they are and what they seek. If the profile commentary, for instance, says that the person is actively seeking a Dominant Male, Female, Couple, or 'Other' as a partner, they are using their assessment of commonality and interchangeability of their potential partners. If I do not consider myself interchangeable with a Lady or a couple or a Switch, then I do not meet their objectives or requirements. And I have on occasion responded to messages saying I appreciate the interest, but it is clear we have differing goals and interests. I realize everyone has differing circumstances and viewpoints and that these evolve, but somehow I think you have a responsibility to "say what you mean, and mean what you say". And if we have divergent viewpoints which are important enough to one of us, then we have a defining issue in potential interaction.

I know this issue has been examined in the forums; whether you can accurately base a perception of someone on their words and conduct here. If you have no other source of information though, I think it is indeed a valid reason for determining whether to spend the time and resources required to examine all of the other facets of commonality with an individual. I am trying to be efficient in the 'search' aspect of my presence here. I have received objections with the rationale that they did not mean what they said or that they did mean it and that my perspective was not valid. OK then, Good Luck in Your Search! You may be the best Peach in the orchard, but if I can see you are a Peach and I know that I want an Apple ...

Sometimes there are fortuitous events or phenomena which assist in the process of separating the wheat from the chaff. With the natural example, there is the obvious benefit of gravity. All objects are physically drawn to the earth. By causing or allowing the wheat and chaff together 'to fall' to the earth, an opportunity is presented for other factors to influence their physical proximity. A breeze or even strong wind which is present will cause a physical separation. The chaff is moved aside as both comply with gravitational forces. Depending on the strength of the wind, the process must be repeated a number of times ~ or the chaff is more dramatically 'blown away' with a decisive wind in few attempts.

Ok, so what is the nutrition I am really talking about? And who cares what my observation is?

I am also talking about Nutrition for the soul. Seeking a suitable partner is also a tedious process. And often a discouraging one. There are so many factors involved. And not only 'My' factors of what I have learned and know about myself and currently 'think' I want and need. I also have to sort out and identify someone else's factors. Their attributes and characteristics. Their position and placement on their own path of self discovery. How far along are they in knowing themselves? Do they even know enough about themselves to know what their wants and needs really are? The problem is made even more difficult when 'chaff' makes every effort to be perceived as 'wheat'!!! Deceitful chaff??? Unfortunately that is too often the case.

As to who would care what my observation is; well, anyone may care... It is thoughtfully written and hopefully is received as heartfelt. This is a public blog. But the important thing is one person will definitely care! I just do not yet know who she is. She will have been on her own journey of discovery; her own path. I do not know of any specifics yet. And her path will have crossed mine or at least be close enough for her to see me on mine. Most of the things I say or do are carefully considered. My profile is fairly well maintained with my purpose being to reveal something about who I am. My forum posts and comments also are carefully considered. My blog is intended to reveal various aspects of who I really am. I have tried to be concise. I provided windows into my soul. Of course I have hoped to reveal my strengths and desirable qualities, but I also reveal faults and weaknesses. For weaknesses are part of the complete person, and are certainly a part of me.

So today I will stop, simply identifying my 'observation' and I will consider the issue further. I am reluctant to reveal too much of my 'winnowing' process because some 'chaff' can be resourceful, and I don't want any to 'study up' or try to sell the answers on Ebay... And the more precise I become in describing what I consider 'wheat' may cause a hybrid variety to lose potential interest.

But I will make a comment about the concept of 'The One'. I am probably appropriately labelled a Romantic. I do not know if there is a Cosmic 'One' for me. I would never know the answer to that question because I would look no further. I have learned much about who I am and what I seek. My goal is not 'the search' but an evolving relationship that serves the desires and needs of both partners. I want to polish the 'coin' comprised of two sides. My goal is for it to shine!