Once upon a time, a Sufi decided to settle in a certain city, where he was to found his school. There were three people living in that city who knew about his work. They wrote to him, expressing their desire to help him in any way he saw fit. Therefore the Sufi visited them in turn.
The first was one of the most famous philologists of that region.
“It’s wonderful that you are here,” he said to the Sufi, “I would like to somehow serve you and your work, and, of course, I also want to learn from you.”
The Sufi thanked him and said:
“I would really like to teach you, but first of all, the preparatory work needs to be done: you cannot live in the house until it is built.”
“Tell me what to do,” said the scientist.
“Assuming that I will become a person about whom various rumors will circulate in this city, I would like you, using your abilities as a scientist, to become my critic, within reasonable limits, putting forward logical arguments against my work in an adequate and rational manner.”
“Indeed, this is a strange request,” said the scientist, “which has no analogues among the methods familiar to the ordinary thinker.” But I promised to serve you and will try to fulfill your request.
The Sufi left him and went to the second man, who was an influential and educated lawyer, and also very authoritative in his district. The lawyer also expressed a desire to provide all possible assistance and become a student.
“I would very much like you to study with me,” said the Sufi, “but first I will accept your offer of help.” What I ask you to do is this: When you hear all kinds of talk about me in this city, you will defend my name and work in the most reasonable manner that you can, so that I have logical and sober support.
“I’ll be glad to act in this spirit,” said the lawyer, “although I definitely didn’t imagine that people of honor would need organized support.”
Finally the Sufi came to the third man, who was the ruler of the city. The ruler expressed a desire to become a disciple and render any possible service to the Sufi, whom he greatly respected. The Sufi thanked him and suggested the following:
“I would be glad to accept you as a student, but, first of all, I need you to act in a certain way, so that events contribute to the manifestation of maximum potential. First, I would like you to employ me in a position of reasonable honor commensurate with my abilities, provided that I adequately perform all such duties as will fall upon my shoulders. However, you will need to publicly reproach me from time to time and even threaten me in such a way that it does not seem that I have a sinecure.
The ruler agreed, noting only that he was surprised that there was a person willing to be reproached and threatened publicly.
Years passed, and in due time the Sufi had many students, he set up his own business, which brought him the necessary income. Meanwhile, he became quite famous, and the philologist argued against his teachings with arguments, while the lawyer, playing his role, spoke out in support of them.
Finally, on the day when the Sufi was able to leave his service to the ruler, he invited all three to his home, prepared a meal and said that he was now ready to accept them as disciples.
“Although it is the prerogative of the master to choose the method of teaching that he considers best,” said the scientist, “but I would like to know why you asked one of us to support you, another to attack you, and a third to threaten you?”
The Sufi replied:
“I am now fully prepared to tell you the reasons for your various assignments.” First, remember that before the inside can be made strong, the outside must become strong. You, who accepted me first, turned out to be the last to be accepted into the Teaching, only because your studies require the least amount of time.
I have asked you, Mr. Scientist, to advance arguments against me so that when the inevitable opposition arises, people, instead of mounting a poorly thought out campaign against the Way, will leave the matter to someone who already adequately represents that point of view. Who better than a logician could reflect all sides of the issue?
But since there are always people susceptible to the influence of hostile propaganda, it was necessary that there should be speeches in defense of a different position. For this role, I chose a respected lawyer, a man of broad views, whose opinion people listen to in the same way as the opinion of a learned philologist.
Like a sponge absorbing excess water, your joint actions have absorbed unnecessary discussions, which, as always, are rooted in the desire of people to discuss. Controversy was therefore placed within safe limits, and the desire to discuss, which exists as a force in itself, was given a suitable outlet. Since none of you were looking for personal gain in victory, the debate was in the hands of people who did not pull the blanket on themselves.
The desire to take up a suitable position in the city administration was caused both by the fact that the tradition of our Path imposes an obligation on those following it to bring benefit, and by my intention to contribute to the well-being of people, since in their eyes I am a person of the corresponding position. The need for this is indicated by knowledge of their mentality. Threats against me were necessary because in all administrative systems there are people who want to bribe, bribe or harm official government representatives. If my position seems precarious, these people will leave me alone, believing that, anyway, I will soon be removed. The intrigues of these people will also reach the ruler, my employer, when they, thus showing their internal characteristics, will try to further turn him against me, and this will allow him to take the necessary actions in time. In addition, any of their intrigues aimed at my downfall will divert their energy, which, thus, will not secretly undermine power.
We live in a world where people are completely unaware of the sources of their actions, and therefore the human community is subject to the influence of unreasonable factors. Bringing them into some kind of protective scheme that will help those who strive for good is at least useful, while keeping them away will only allow weeds of this kind to sprout and have to be weeded out again. By choosing the latter method, we will never make progress and, at best, we will remain where we are now, pulling out weeds and expecting their numbers to increase. How, then, can people make any progress towards the true destiny of man?
Translated from Russian · original on wisdomlib.ru