Assumptions

Assumptions are conclusions that mind makes based on the previous experiences, the inputs of our intelligence, ego and other gross senses, etc. We have already discussed many times the defect of our gross and subtle senses. The famous example of assumptions is the four blind men and the elephant.

As Srila Prabhupada says in a lecture,

"A blind man is given a elephant, an elephant. Now, "Mr. Blind Man, just understand what is this." So, he is blind, he simply, I mean to say, moves his hand over the leg. "Sir, it is a column. It is a big column." So blind man, he cannot see; he thought that elephant is big column."

The assumption by the blind man in the above example is not harmful to anyone. But this may not be case in all circumstances.

" Once, the King of a country decided to feed the thousands of people in his palace. He brought chefs and cooks, gave them the necessary ingredients, facilities etc. and the cooking process started. Since a huge quantity of food was to be prepared, the cooking happened in an open ground. Around the same time, an eagle carried a poisonous snake on its legs to satisfy its hunger. The snake struggling for its life, spat out its venom and the venom fell down in the cauldron where sambar was been cooked, which made the sambar poisonous.

Since none noticed this, the food was distributed and the people who ate became sick and many even died. "

"The Yamaraj and his assistants were discussing as to whom should this sinful reaction of the killing of so many people should be assigned to. The discussed about various possibilities.

The King - He was not responsible as he didn't mix the poison. He took utmost care and also his intention was to feed the people, not to kill them. Also, he didn't know the food was contaminated.

The chefs and cooks - They are also not responsible. Nobody looks into the sky during the cooking process. Also, they would have been multi tasking.

Like this the Yamaraj and his assistants discussed about various stake holders and could not come to the conclusion as to how to settle the account.

At that time, some travelers requested a roadside vendor as to where they find food to satisfy their hunger. The vendor replied that they can go anywhere to satisfy their hunger but definitely not to the King's palace as he has already killed many people in the name of feeding program.

Immediately, Yamaraj and his assistants found the solution to their problem. They assigned the sinful reactions to this vendor as he had falsely accused the king. "

Shrimad Bhagavatam says as follows.

1.7.18 : O greatest among human beings, it is very difficult to ascertain the particular miscreant who has caused our sufferings, because we are bewildered by all the different opinions of theoretical philosophers.

1.7.19: Some of the philosophers, who deny all sorts of duality, declare that one's own self is responsible for his personal happiness and distress. Others say that superhuman powers are responsible, while yet others say that activity is responsible, and the gross materialists maintain that nature is the ultimate cause.

1.7.20: There are also some thinkers who believe that no one can ascertain the cause of distress by argumentation, nor know it by imagination, nor express it by words. O sage amongst kings, judge for yourself by thinking over all this with your own intelligence.

1.7.22: The King said: O you, who are in the form of a bull! You know the truth of religion, and you are speaking according to the principle that the destination intended for the perpetrator of irreligious acts is also intended for one who identifies the perpetrator. You are no other than the personality of religion.