Reason

Mullah Nasrudin borrowed a brass pot from his friend. The next day, he returned it along with a smaller pot. ‘Your pot gave birth while I had it,’ said Nasrudin, ‘so I am giving you its child.’ The friend, happy to receive the bonus, did not question him.

A few days later, Nasrudin borrowed the pot again. After a week passed, the friend asked Nasrudin to return it. Nasrudin answered, ‘I can’t as your pot died.’ ‘How is that possible?’ the friend shouted, ‘a pot can't die!’

‘Well, you believed it gave birth,’ said Nasrudin, ‘so why can't you believe it died?’

So often, so many of us accept things only when they benefit us. Being self-absorbed is about being pre-occupied with only one’s thoughts, interests and paybacks. However we change our stance when the same thing is to our detriment.

We must align with reason. Reason is the power of mind to think, understand and form judgments logically. We must not allow our emotions to block up multiple perspectives. When we stick to self-absorbed approach, we give up on reason.

We jump to conclusions and believe it to be right. We refuse to look at other angles to the situation. We stick to our blinkers and our prejudices. However, if we are put into the position of the other or another side; we may realise that we ignored reason.

A basic template for reasoning is evenness. We cannot argue differently depending on how it suits or concerns only us and our single perception! Reason cannot change as per gender, location or affiliation. It must be based on a 360 degree perspective.

Good for goose, is good for gander too

Reason is about sticking to what’s true!

~ Pravin K Sabnis