The student asked the Master:
“I heard it said: “The world is a lie.” And I also heard: “The things of this world help the other world.” How can deception lead to something good?
The Sufi sighed and replied:
— Harmless striped midges remind you of a wasp sting, and this helps them survive. Is this a scam? When a predator sees spots on a butterfly's wings, it thinks they are the eyes of a tiger and it runs. Is this a scam? Sometimes, indeed, you have to treat a person in such a way as to force him to act in a certain way - for his benefit.
- Could you illustrate this? - asked the student.
“Okay,” said the Master. -Have you ever heard the story about the great sage of ancient times?
He was a doctor and the king of his country called him to heal himself. The sage refused. Then the king ordered the doctor to be seized and brought to the palace. When they were left alone, the King said:
“I brought you here, bound hand and foot, so that you could heal me, for I am suffering from paralysis.” If you heal me, I will reward you, if not, you will be beheaded.
Doctor said:
- Let them leave us.
When they were alone in the room, he pulled out a knife and said:
“Now I will take revenge on you for the insult you caused me!”
And he approached the King. Scared to death, the King jumped up and jumped away, and began to run around the room, forgetting about his paralysis. When he called the guards, Sufi jumped out the window and disappeared. The king was cured in the only way that was possible, but he held a grudge against the Sufi for many years, just like those who think that "deception" is always evil.
Translated from Russian · original on wisdomlib.ru