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Traditions and Thought..!

By Robert Clements. Dated: 9/10/2014 10:57:07 PM

So many of us fall prey to beliefs that are rooted in tradition rather than facts: Not only do we defend these beliefs but firmly believe quite often they are divine, and many a time, wars and huge fights take place because we want to emphasise what we believe in is more the truth than somebody else's belief.
But traditions need to be examined closely by using the method of thought. We have all been given the gift of thinking, use it. Let us look very closely at this experiment that was conducted:
Put eight monkeys in a room. In the middle of the room is a ladder, leading to a bunch of bananas hanging from a hook on the ceiling. Each time a monkey tries to climb the ladder, all the monkeys are sprayed with ice water, which makes them miserable. Soon enough, whenever a monkey attempts to climb the ladder, all the other monkeys, not wanting to be sprayed, set upon him and beat him up. Soon, none of the eight monkeys ever attempt to climb the ladder.
One of the original monkeys is then removed, and a new monkey is put in the room. Seeing the bananas and the ladder, he wonders why none of the other monkeys are doing the obvious. But undaunted, he immediately begins to climb the ladder.
All the other monkeys fall upon him and beat him silly. He has no idea why.
However, he no longer attempts to climb the ladder.
A second original monkey is removed and replaced. The newcomer again attempts to climb the ladder, but all the other monkeys hammer the crap out of him.
This includes the previous new monkey, who, grateful that he's not on the receiving end this time, participates in the beating because all the other monkeys are doing it. However, he has no idea why he's attacking the new monkey.
One by one, all the original monkeys are replaced. Eight new monkeys are now in the room. None of them have ever been sprayed by ice water. None of them attempt to climb the ladder. All of them will enthusiastically beat up any new monkey who tries, without having any idea why.
And that is how traditions, religions and systems get established and followed.
Think twice before following a tradition, religion or system blindly. It would make more sense if you get your own understanding of it..!
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