Something interesting

Received this very interesting forward (in italics below) a few minutes ago from a friend.

"The World of Interpretations: In a worldwide survey, conducted by the United Nations, the only question asked was: "Would you please give your most honest opinion about solutions to the food shortage in the rest of the world?" The survey was a HUGE failure because:

• In Africa they did not know what "food" meant;

• In Western Europe they did not know what "shortage" meant;

]• In Eastern Europe they did not know what "opinion" meant;

• In the Middle East they did not know what "solution" meant;

• In South America they did not know what "please" meant;

• In Asia they did not know what "honest" meant; and

• In the United States they did not know what "the rest of the world" meant! "

I don't know why but my immediate reaction to this was "I wonder if the 'ekta mein bal' philosophy could help produce the answer to this question if they try to answer it together". Probably that breaking-a-bundle -of -sticks-tied-together analogy does not quite work here. How very limited and applicable-only-in-certain-situations are the lessons that we are taught! How very open to interpretation they are! Sometimes I feel that all doctrines are just a web of words.