Intolerance (Press, 9 February 1987)
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Summary: Intolerance (Press, 9 February 1987)
N. Milanovich responded to an article published on 3 February 1987 regarding a United Nations report that highlighted a global prevalence of intolerance and persecution, which includes issues like imprisonments, executions, forced conversions, and discrimination. The report links these problems to the belief that one's religion is the sole true representation of ultimate truth. In Milanovich’s letter, he references a story from the "Friendship Book" by Francis Gay, where the Buddha illustrates the nature of human understanding through a parable about blind men who describe an elephant after touching different parts of it. Each man perceives the elephant as a fan, plough, or pillar based on their limited experience, leading to arguments about the true nature of the creature. The Buddha uses this story to convey that people’s understanding of truth is often limited and subjective, which reflects the broader theme of the UN report regarding religious intolerance and the conflicts arising from differing beliefs.
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