The Dermis Probe is a collection of
teaching stories and proverbs drawn from
Sufi tradition. The book also contains a section of supporting notes; "These notes are of varying subject: sometimes amplification of the theme, sometimes book references, sometimes biographical; some stories, too, have no note at all, though not many, being either self-explanatory or – in Sufi style – entities in themselves which should not be interfered with." The title piece is a modern retelling of the "
Blind men and an elephant", from the
Tittha Sutta, a scripture included in one of the oldest texts in the Pali Canon of Theravāda Buddhism. This story was then published by
Sanai of
Ghazna in
Afghanistan and later by Sanai's student, the poet and mystic Jalaludin
Rumi in his
Masnavi in the latter half of the thirteenth century. Shah's adaptation begins with a conference of scientists, from different fields of expertise, presenting their distorted conclusions on the material which the camera is focused upon. As the camera slowly zooms out it becomes clear for the first time that the material under examination is the hide of an African elephant. The words "The Parts Are Greater Than The Whole" then appear on the screen. This retelling formed the script for a short four-minute film by the animator
Richard Williams. The film was chosen as an Outstanding Film of the Year and was exhibited at the
London and
New York City film festivals. ==Reception==