Sayings of Ramakrishna 5

Four blind men went to see an elephant. One touched the leg of the elephant, and said, "The elephant is like a pillar."

The second touched the trunk, and said, "The elephant is like a thick stick or club."

The third touched the belly, and said, "The elephant is like a big jar."

The fourth touched the ears, and said, "The elephant is like a winnowing basket."

Thus they began to dispute among themselves as to the figure of the elephant. 

A passer-by seeing them thus quarreling, said, "What is it that you are disputing about?" They told him everything, and asked him to arbitrate. 

That man said, "None of you has seen the elephant. The elephant is not like a pillar, its legs are like pillars. It is not like a big water-vessel, its belly is like a water-vessel. It is not like a winnowing basket, its ears are like winnowing baskets. It is not like a thick stick or club, but its proboscis is like that. The elephant is the combination of all of these."

In the same manner those quarrel who have seen one aspect only of the Deity.