They say that Bahauddin Naqshbandi was once asked about people seeking knowledge.
He answered:
- I will give you an allegory that should not be taken literally, but which reflects human nature.
And he told this story:
— Those in love with the Truth say that when the souls of the living were created, they were asked which way they wanted to get into the body.
And they divided into four parts. The first ones chose the walking route as the safest. The latter asked for horses, since this would require less labor. Still others chose the wind, because they wanted to sweep away all obstacles. The fourth chose a light in which they could understand and move at the same time.
These four groups still exist, and people who seek truth fall under one of these characteristics. Pedestrians are imitators limited in space and speed. The riders are those who rely on books, their horse is the author’s beliefs. Still others are carried all over the world. The fourth are Sufis.
Speaking of knowledge, the first tie themselves to primitive cults; the latter are committed to ideas; still others are captive of their preferences and plans; the fourth are Sufis.
We can judge a person's abilities by how they choose to travel. The first group is interested in what they call techniques; the second - exciting ideas and stories; still others need one after the other; and only a fourth recognize the reality of the Sufi.
Translated from Russian · original on wisdomlib.ru