Nazinda, a wandering Bukhara dervish, when asked questions, often answered: “I don’t know.”
This feature became a topic of controversy in Allahabad. The discussion included those who argued that a teacher should not admit ignorance on any issue, those who believed that just such a point of view was ignorant and was not subject to discussion, as well as those who held various other points of view on this issue.
All the arguments were presented to the court of the Hindu Pandit Ram Lal, who said:
- When he says “I don’t know,” perhaps he means that no one knows. He may also mean that it is you who do not know, and at this moment he is showing you your own self. He may also indicate that he does not need to “know” because there is a misconception in the question or answer.
Someone asked:
“Why doesn’t he express it more specifically?”
The Pandit replied:
“By doing so, he would cease to provoke thought and discussion.”
Translated from Russian · original on wisdomlib.ru