The elephant, the largest land mammal on earth has the most potential to wreck havoc on all around it. A male African elephant can reach a height of 10 feet and a weight of over 12,000 lbs. When considered for size, strength and intelligence the elephant creates both fear and awe. In it's trunk alone it has the strength to lift up to 400 kg's, and by biting on a leather strap with it's back molars can pull (by leaning back with it's weight) up to 500 kg's (1102.311 lbs).
Elephants are considered very social creatures, staying connected to their ‘community’ for life. The community will celebrate events, birth, return of a member missing for some time and they will mourn the passing of their community members. Elephants are said to never lose this sense of community or their desire to be free. Their memory is legendary. It is easy to be awed by elephants due to size, raw power and the uncanny sense of community. The elephant is much more than a beast of burden.
Fear is appropriate, as a single elephant can destroy most anything in its path. Nothing can stand against them, destruction is certain for obstructions. To be a constructive part of the economy, rather than by means of work or entertainment, the elephant must be controlled. The main means of control for captive elephants is the practice of tethering or picketing, chaining two or more feet so the animal cannot move. The second is to administer pain through striking or beating their trunks which is the most sensitive part of their bodies.
These intelligent social mammals when domesticated live their whole lives tethered, sometimes in the blazing heat or the freezing cold. The majority of the time, they are chained by two feet, unable to take even one step forward or back. Even in captivity they yearn for the free community that is their nature. Tethered for control, controlled for the use of others.
It begins when they are very young. A pole, stake, post or tree strong enough to keep the young elephant stationary is used. A single rope or chain is placed on it's hind foot with very little slack so it cannot gain momentum to pull loose or break the constraint. It spends the majority of it's day tied up. After time, the elephant gives up trying to break free. It grows in strength, strength that would easily free itself from the bonds holding it back. But it doesn't realize it. The elephant assumes nothing has changed and does not challenge it's state.
Studies have concluded that elephants that are picketed or tethered continually, show signs of neurosis. They begin to exhibit compulsive and self-stimulating behaviors. Hidden video has recorded them swaying back and forth, stomping, and flapping their ears excessively. Just as a human will exhibit compulsive movement or repetitive behaviors when they are unable to respond to natural instincts such as fight or flight with the insurgence of adrenaline in to their systems. When robbed of their instinctual belief in freedom, and removed from their community, they become impaired mentally and suffer the loss of their natural power.
The Elephant is tethered, so others may have peace in their presence. The tether is the external training which takes place for the purpose of control and domestication.
The freedom the elephant yearns for and is born for is taken from it unless the tether is removed, unless the tether is broken.
Reunited After 20 Years
A Demonstration of Intelligence
A Mother's Anguish
We too are tethered, controlled by teaching, training, doctrine and dogma, tethered to traditions and practices. Freedom is dependent on breaking any harmful effects of the tether. The village of Rionchogu has tethers as well. The work within Rionchogu is dedicated to breaking these tethers which are responsible for so much of their pain, suffering, and difficulty. The tethers are different for each person and group. The local meaning of the name Rionchogu is literally: "The Place of the Elephants". How appropriate then that we see this breaking of the cycle of illiteracy and poverty as breaking the tether which holds them captive.
The Elephant is the visual of the potential which these people are born with and yearn for.
To turn our backs is unacceptable, it is inappropriate, and to do so is to see ourselves as better than our neighbor. Our own potential is held back through years of conditioning as well. Like the people of Rionchogu, as soon as we see that the constraint is no longer able to contain us, our potential is limitless!
American poet John Godfrey Saxe (1816-1887) based the following poem on a fable which was told in India many years ago. It's a great example of how easy it is for us to close our minds and fill in the blanks with sweeping generalizations.
The Blind Men and the Elephant
It was six men of Indostan to learning much inclined,
Who went to see the Elephant (Though all of them were blind),
That each by observation might satisfy his mind.
The First approached the Elephant, And happening to fall
Against his broad and sturdy side, At once began to bawl:
"God bless me! but the Elephant Is very like a wall!"
The Second, feeling of the tusk, Cried, "Ho! what have we here
So very round and smooth and sharp? To me 'tis mighty clear
This wonder of an Elephant Is very like a spear!"
The Third approached the animal, And happening to take
The squirming trunk within his hands, Thus boldly up and spake:
"I see," quoth he, "the Elephant Is very like a snake!"
The Fourth reached out an eager hand, And felt about the knee.
"What most this wondrous beast is like Is mighty plain," quoth he;
"Tis clear enough the Elephant Is very like a tree!"
The Fifth, who chanced to touch the ear, Said, "E'en the blindest man
Can tell what this resembles most; Deny the fact who can
This marvel of an Elephant Is very like a fan!"
The Sixth no sooner had begun About the beast to grope,
Than, seizing on the swinging tail That fell within his scope,
"I see," quoth he, "the Elephant Is very like a rope!"
And so these men of Indostan Disputed loud and long,
Each in his own opinion Exceeding stiff and strong,
Though each was partly in the right, And all were in the wrong!
Moral:
So oft in theologic wars, The disputants, I ween,
Rail on in utter ignorance Of what each other mean,
And prate about an Elephant Not one of them has seen!
The tethering or picketing of elephants has become our greatest model to relate to the people of Rionchogu. They understand this principle of "tricking" the elephant in to believing it cannot break free. Symbolizing their potential with the power of this great animal, as well as it's commitment to the community to stand together, gives the village an opportunity to understand the complex workings of social and personal conditioning. It also opens our own eyes so that we can begin to discover what it is that keeps us from realizing our own potential.
