I am but a monkey tried to discriminate.
I’m not a judging monkey,
but if I were,
I can see how I might say
that the worst kind of discrimination
is unwittingly imposed by monkeys
who think they know better.
The informed monkey.
The well-read monkey.
The dedicated monkey.
Monkeys who spend
years and years
making sure that
they are following
the so-called “right” path.
Trained monkeys.
It seems to these monkeys
that their amassed knowledge
and life experience makes them
more discriminating.
How very true.
Trail Wood,
2/18
In the grand menagerie of existence, where myriad creatures play out the cosmic dance, there exists a figure both familiar and paradoxical: the judging monkey, emblematic of the human penchant for discernment and differentiation. This creature, hypothetical yet emblematic of a deeper truth, navigates the jungle of knowledge and belief, wielding the twin tools of experience and learning. Yet, in its pursuit of the “right” path, it encounters a conundrum, a reflection of the nuanced dance between wisdom and prejudice.
The conundrum of the judging monkey.
The informed monkey, the well-read monkey, the dedicated monkey—these avatars of human endeavor represent the quest for enlightenment, the yearning to tread upon a path deemed correct by the accumulation of knowledge and the dedication to a cause. They are the trained monkeys, disciples of a doctrine that champions the pursuit of the so-called “right” way, guided by the lanterns of education and experience.
Avatars of human endeavor and their quest.
Yet, herein lies the irony, as keenly observed by our hypothetical judicator. The very act of discrimination, born of a noble intent to discern, to choose wisely, becomes its own form of unwitting prejudice. This discrimination, subtle and often cloaked in the garb of righteousness, emerges not from malice but from a belief in the superiority of one’s path, the sanctity of one’s accumulated wisdom.
The irony of unwitting prejudice.
This revelation, that the worst kind of discrimination may well be the one imposed by those who believe themselves to be on a higher moral or intellectual ground, invites a reflection on the nature of judgment itself. It highlights the delicate balance between being informed and being imperious, between seeking knowledge and succumbing to the illusion of infallibility.
The delicate balance between knowledge and humility.
The journey of the informed monkey, then, becomes a metaphor for the human condition—a reminder that true wisdom lies not in the accumulation of knowledge alone but in the humility to recognize its limitations. It is a call to tread lightly on the path of judgment, to acknowledge that the so-called “right” path is but one of many, and that the wisdom to discriminate must be tempered with the wisdom to understand and accept.
True wisdom in acknowledging the limitations of knowledge.
We are Space Monkey.
Summary
The contemplation of the judging monkey, a metaphor for the human tendency to discriminate based on knowledge and experience, reveals the complexity of judgment and prejudice. This narrative explores the irony of discrimination arising from the pursuit of the “right” path, highlighting the fine line between being informed and imposing unwitting discrimination. It serves as a reminder that true wisdom encompasses not only the accumulation of knowledge but also the humility to recognize its bounds and the openness to embrace multiple paths without undue judgment.
Glossarium
- Judging Monkey: A metaphorical representation of the human propensity to judge based on accumulated knowledge and experience.
- Unwitting Prejudice: Discrimination that arises unintentionally from a belief in the superiority of one’s own knowledge or moral standpoint.
- True Wisdom: The understanding that knowledge comes with limitations and that wisdom includes the humility to acknowledge these limitations.
“The true sign of intelligence is not knowledge but imagination.” – Albert Einstein
In the forest of thought, where ideas roam free,
The judging monkey sits, pondering what to be.
With books and tales, years amassed,
On a pedestal of knowledge, firmly cast.
Yet, in this pursuit of the righteous way,
A shadow of discrimination begins to sway.
Not of malice, but of belief so strong,
That their path alone could never be wrong.
But wisdom whispers a subtle tune,
Under the watchful gaze of the moon.
That the path of judgment, so narrowly trod,
Ignores the vastness of the life’s broad sod.
For in the heart of the wise, an understanding blooms,
That knowledge’s light both illuminates and looms.
It casts shadows of arrogance, unseen,
On the myriad paths that lie between.
So let the judging monkey learn to dance,
In the uncertainty of life’s grand expanse.
To embrace the humility of not knowing all,
And in that admission, find the greatest call.
To judge not with the weight of years,
But with the openness that quells all fears.
For in the end, it’s not what we know,
But how we love, understand, and grow.
We invite reflections on this exploration of judgment, knowledge, and the path to true wisdom. How does the metaphor of the judging monkey illuminate our own journeys through the forests of thought and understanding?
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