Mind your elephant

Now I remember! To do this the embedded video has to be in it's own post. So, here's the info. While peeking Lulu.com forums, I found this interesting think.. and knew that Inda and you all will enjoy it!

It's by Tomi Astikainen who's book is free, here:

http://www.mindyourelephant.org/

quote:

http://www.mindyourelephant.org/elephant.pdf

“Is there an elephant inside of me?” Anna thought. Maybe she was thinking out loud because the teacher answered.
‐ Yes there is. Some people call it ego; some refer to it as self, and the rest call it the thinking mind. I call it an elephant. It’s much more precise expression than any of these more professional but ambiguous terms...

It has great pictures, and an interesting story about not being too wrapped up in your self. Calling that ego-centric self your elephant is strange to me, and probably most Givnology folks, because to us an Elephant is the greatest creature on earth, and who knows, anywhere!

I would metaphorize "monkey-mind" or "sloth-butt" as the inner ignorance in people, present company excepted of course..

If you read about Asia or Africa, the elephants are tragic victims of HUMANS evil-doing. And of course I like Curious-George, so maybe "Mind your inner-sloth" is my suggestion...

Enjoy the Ellies!

Love and *LIGHT* *BEING*,
Teo

Humans are the ones with the ego, and not the elephant.
Elephants have been tortured and hunted by humans for egocentric reasons.

The elephant is a social animal, family oriented, caring for its young and mourning its dead.

We cannot even compare the cruel self-centered human mind with that of the compassionate elephant.

Love,
Sue

I also enjoy the images in the book, but I have to agree with Sue about the text.

Animals have been tortured and abused by humans for hundreds of years, for their tusks, as circus animals, hard workers etc.

Humans are the only ones with an ego, and accusing the elephant of this characteristic is totally selfish, and egotistical.

The elephant is a lovely family oriented animal, so I wish that humans would have an elephant in them to mind, so that we might be a more compationate and selfless creature.

Thank you for the post.

I have to agree with everyone, it is unkind to accuse the elephant of our ego.

This statement " Yes there is. Some people call it ego; some refer to it as self, and the rest call it the thinking mind. I call it an elephant" shows the arrogance and the ego of the human who tries to blame another for its faults. Only humans can think this way.

Elephants are highly intelligent, family and family-group loving animals. As was mentioned by Inda and Sue, they look after their young, take care of each other and deeply mourn their departed.

Morality made by the mind gets in
the way of Natural Goodness.

Chuang Tzu

The book may be fine, but humans are the only ones with an ego, just by blaming the elephant shows what kind of an ego the human has.

Sincerely,
Gisele

The book is quite nice, and I like the illustrations, but I really cannot understand what the elephant has to do with the human ego.
As far as I know, humans are the only ones who have an ego, and we cannot be arrogant enough to blame another being for our defects.

Love,
Vicky

quote:

http://www.mindyourelephant.org/elephant.pdf

“Is there an elephant inside of me?” Anna thought. Maybe she was thinking out loud because the teacher answered.
‐ Yes there is. Some people call it ego; some refer to it as self, and the rest call it the thinking mind. I call it an elephant. It’s much more precise expression than any of these more professional but ambiguous terms...

quote:

The book is quite nice, and I like the illustrations, but I really cannot understand what the elephant has to do with the human ego.


As far as I know, humans are the only ones who have an ego, and we cannot be arrogant enough to blame another being for our defects.

Thank you again for the interesting post Teo.

Love,Inda