‘He was a doctor, and the king of a certain country called him to treat his ailment. The sage refused. Then the King ordered soldiers to seize the doctor, and to bring him to his presence. ‘When they were face to face, the King said, “I have brought you here, bound hand and foot, to […]
Who think that “deceit” is always evil Read More »
I am being asked to illustrate that the learning process is distinct from its emotionally stimulative content.There is a story of a teacher who spent much of his salary on alcoholic drink.When this became known, students deserted him, saying ‘We can hardly understand what he says.’A friend, another scholar, suggested that, as he now had
Once, two students of the Sufi Way found themselves in a heated argument about the nature of human understanding. The first student claimed, “Man arrives at Truth through personal effort and diligent research. He begins in ignorance and gradually acquires knowledge.” The second student disagreed, “No, man reaches Truth only under the guidance of expert
A Lesson in Understanding: The Two Sufi Students and the Truth Read More »
There is a story of old, once told by a people who hearkened to wisdom. As the members of that community do not now listen to meanings, it really matters little whether they are told the story or not, or have preserved it or not.But to proceed: the story concerns four men, who lived in
The Four Scholars and Lion Read More »
There was once a man who became tired of his life in his village. The more he heard, from travelers passing through the nearby market town, of the ’greater world’, the more he longed to enter it, and to escape from the limitations which he felt surrounded him at every turn.Finally he made his decision,
A haughty aristocrat fell into a well, and hung suspended just above the water, praying and shouting for help.After some time another man came along and said:‘Take my hand, and I will pull you out.’‘One moment,’ said the trapped man, reverting to habit, I must first know your name.’‘My name, if it is of any
Don’t Ask Too Many Questions Read More »
A Sufi teacher on his death-bed gave a bundle of papers to his disciple and said:‘Take these. Some are written upon and others not. Those which are blank are as valuable as those which are not.’ The disciple took the papers, and studied those on which there was writing. The others he kept just as
Looked at, but cannot be seen- That is called the Invisible Listened to, but cannot be heard- That is called the Inaudible Grasped at, but cannot be touched- That is called the Intangible These three elude all our inquiries And hence blend and become One. Not by its rising, is there Light, Not by its
Prehistoric Origin Read More »
There was once a king who had been trying to treat his subjects with enlightened kindness and the minimum of control. The people showed signs of disaffection and instead of showing co-operation and respect for the administration, became complaining and turbulent. The king was standing on the ramparts of one of his castles one day
The Piece of Advice for You Read More »
Man has ten thousand plans for himself; God but one for him. Man cries, “Now, now!” God says, “Not yet, not yet.” A good man protects three villages. Let your ideas be round and your conduct square. Right heart need not fear evil seeming. God drives no man to despair. Misfortunes issue where diseases enter,
Man has ten thousand plans for himself Read More »
