Sufi parable from Rumi A man who had chronic heart neurosis came to Rumi and said:
“No medications help me, I’ve tried everything.” Could you help me with anything?
The master looked attentively at the newcomer and after calm intuitive reflection said:
- Bring me the scissors.
While the scissors were being carried, the man fidgeted nervously in his chair and, unable to bear it, asked:
- Tell me, do you want to cut my heart?
Rumi laughed and replied:
“I’m not a surgeon, and besides, I’ve never heard of a heart being operated on with scissors.”
When the scissors were brought, the Master cut off one of the buttons of the patient’s vest and told him not to sew another one in place of the cut one and not to touch the place where it was with his hand.
Rumi told the man to come back in two weeks and said that during this time he would expect a positive result. He promised to do everything as the Master ordered.
Two weeks later a very joyful man came and said:
“The doctor examined me, listened to my heart and said that it was fine. What did you do, sir, drive the spirit out of my button?
Rumi replied with a smile:
“Your hand constantly pressed the button of your vest and played with it close to your heart. This button was the “spirit” that was gnawing at your heart. By cutting it off and forbidding you to touch this place with your hand, I freed it from the nervous movements of your hand.
Translated from Russian · original on wisdomlib.ru