It is reported that Bahauddin Naqshbandi was asked:
— Why don’t you discuss with scientists? Such and such a sage regularly does this, invariably leading scientists to complete confusion and his students to admiration.
He replied:
- Find those who still remember the times when I also argued with scientists, and ask them. I have always been able to destroy their beliefs and their imaginary evidence with relative ease. Those who were present at the numerous meetings at that time will tell you about this. But one day a man wiser than me said:
— You shame people’s language so often and predictably that there is a certain monotony in this process. And that is basically all - because it does not lead to any final goal, since scientists do not achieve understanding and continue to make mistakes after their positions have been defeated.
He added:
“Your students are in a constant state of amazement at your victories.” They have learned to admire you. Instead, they should perceive the relative uselessness and lack of importance of your opponents. Thus, in victory you were defeated by, say, a quarter. Wondering students also wastes a lot of their time when they could be learning something worthwhile in that time. That's why you failed, perhaps another quarter. Two quarters are equal to one half. You have half a chance left.
— It was twenty years ago. That is why I do not pay attention to scientists, either mine or others. Neither for the sake of victory, nor for the sake of defeat. From time to time, it is possible to strike at self-important scientists in order to demonstrate their emptiness to students - as if knocking on an empty pot. Doing more is both a waste of time and gives importance to intellectuals: you are giving them free attention that they probably would not have received on their own.
Translated from Russian · original on wisdomlib.ru