THE VALUE OF DISCRIMINATION

THE VALUE OF DISCRIMINATION

THE DONKEY AND THE TIGER

The donkey told the tiger, "Grass is blue."

"No, grass is green." Replied the Tiger.

The discussion became heated, and the two decided to submit the issue to arbitration, so they approached the lion.

As they approached the king on his throne, the donkey started screaming: ′′Your Majesty, isn't it true that grass is blue?"

The lion replied: "If you believe it to be true, then grass is blue."

The donkey rushed forward and continued: ′′The tiger disagrees with me. He contradicts me and annoys me. Please punish him."

The king then declared: ′′The tiger will be punished with 3 days of silence."

The donkey jumped with joy and went on his way, content and repeating ′′Grass is blue, grass is blue, grass is blue..."

The tiger could not hide his dismay. "Sire, why have you punished me?” he asked.

“After all, grass is green!"

The Lion looked at him sternly and said: ′′Yes, of course it is. You have always known and seen that grass is green."

“Then why are you punishing me?" retorted the Tiger.

"This has nothing to do with the question of whether the grass is blue or green.” Said the Lion. “The punishment is due to the fact that it is degrading for an intelligent and clear-minded creature like you to waste time arguing with someone who does not have the right knowledge about a statement you know to be inaccurate and false”. On top of this, you bothered me in order to validate something you knew perfectly well was true!"

The tiger listened attentively. He realized his mistake. 

“The biggest waste of time”, continued the Lion. “is to argue with someone who is misled by erroneous and unfounded beliefs and illusions. One should never dissipate precious time on discussions that make no sense. Instead, one should always follow one’s sense of discrimination; evaluate what is true and what is not, and be wise enough to stick to what one knows to be correct. It can be a true challenge to convince those whose point of view is as small as a peephole that their arguments may be wrong! And after all, should we really try to convince others of anything?  Especially of what they are unable to see? There are many reasons why their understanding is so limited and why our brothers and sisters sometimes insist on being right, even when they are not. My dear friend, use your sense of discernment – and your tolerance and compassion - to know how to behave in such situations, without blaming or judging anyone; however respecting and abiding by that which is true for you. Today you may confabulate about the colour of grass… tomorrow your discussion may lead to an argument about that which is morally right or wrong, good or bad. Stick to your values and let them always be your guide.”

“Discrimination (The faculty of -  Ed.) confers upon us the ability to decide how much importance is to be given to various aspects of a given situation. Discrimination is a component of wisdom. Without it one cannot pursue the right path”.

- Sathya Sai (from the book "Sathya Sai Vahini",  pg. 167)

“How shall a man judge what to do in such times?'
'As he ever has judged,' said Aragorn. 'Good and ill have not changed since yesteryear...It is a man's part to discern them, as much in the Golden Wood as in his own house.”                                                                         

 ― J.R.R. Tolkien (from the book "The two towers", 1954)

"Discrimination says eat the good side and discard the bad. There is another force in you through which Truth works, and that is Discrimination (The faculty of discernment – Ed.). That force must be used to put aside wrong action. The power of discrimination knows what is right and what is wrong”.

Sathya Sai, (from the book "Digest", pg. 85)