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 »
When men die of famine, you say it is the season that is to blame. What does this differ from saying, when you have caused a man’s death. “It was not I, but the weather”? ” When a public officer is neglectful, what would you do with him?”‘Cast him off,” replies the king.‘When in the
Responsibilities of the Government Read More »
To nourish the heart there is nothing better than to make the desires few. Here is a man whose desires are few; in some things he may not be able to keep his heart, but they will be few. Here is a man whose desires are many; in some things he may be able to
Concerning Desires Read More »
One day, the Shah was praising the head cook for the appetizing pulao he had prepared. ‘There is nothing more fit for a king than pulao!’ ‘Indeed,’ agreed Nasrudin, who was a guest at the royal table.The King continued to eat greedily. After his fourth serving he started to feel a heaviness in his stomach.
Invited to a grandee’s court, Nasrudin was offered a horse to ride. As soon as it was brought to him, he placed his right foot in the left stirrup, sprang up, and landed on its back, facing the animal’s tail.‘Perhaps you are not accustomed to the mount of gentlemen sniffed the aristocrat.‘Perhaps not,’ said Nasrudin.
Facing Animal’s Tail Read More »
