Some Hindus have an elephant to show. No one here has ever seen an elephant. They bring it at night to a dark room. One by one, we go in the dark and come out saying how we experience the animal. One of us happens to touch the trunk. “A water-pipe kind of creature.” Another, the ear. “A very strong, always moving back and forth, fan-animal.” Another, the leg. “I find it still, like a column on a temple.” Another touches the curved back. “A leathery throne.” Another, the cleverest, feels the tusk. “A rounded sword made of porcelain.” He’s proud of his description. Each of us touches one place
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