CPS NEWSLETTER

A small incident from everyday life can sometimes reveal a profound truth about human existence. Such was the case in a locality where monkeys had become a persistent nuisance. They would arrive in groups, jump across rooftops, break flower pots, and damage whatever they encountered. During the fruit season, they were particularly troublesome, leaving almost nothing on the trees. Residents tried various methods to keep them away, but with little success. After some time, an interesting solution was discovered. Some people placed pictures and cutouts of langurs on their rooftops. Since monkeys naturally fear langurs, they avoided those places. Others followed the same practice, and the result was remarkable. The monkeys stopped coming altogether. A simple picture, containing no real threat, was enough to alter their behaviour. At first glance, this may appear to be an ordinary incident. Yet it contains a lesson that goes far beyond the behaviour of animals. It highlights the difference between animal intelligence and human intelligence. Animals possess a limited form of intelligence. It enables them to secure food, avoid danger, reproduce, and survive. Their awareness is confined to immediate needs. A monkey sees the image of a langur and reacts instinctively. It does not stop to investigate whether the langur is real or merely a picture. It responds to appearance rather than reality. Its intelligence functions within a narrow circle determined by instinct. Human beings, however, have been granted a far greater gift. They possess the ability to think, analyze, question, and reflect. They can move beyond appearances and search for underlying truths. This capacity distinguishes them from all other creatures. BEYOND MERE APPEARANCE The Purpose Of Intelligence