One king invited a Sufi dervish to the palace and told him:
“From the beginning of human times to this day, the dervish path, passed down from generation to generation by continuously successive Masters, has served as an eternal source of light, which underlies such great values that even my reign is nothing more than a weak reflection of them.
“Yes, that’s true,” answered the dervish.
“And if so,” the king continued, “since I know this and passionately desire to learn all the truths that you have learned, then teach me.”
Lowering his head to his chest, the dervish plunged into deep thought. And after a while he said:
— Since wisdom cannot be conveyed in words, let us wait until the opportune moment presents itself to convey it.
The dervish came to the court every morning, ready to serve the ruler. Time passed, and the ruler did not receive any lessons. Every time, seeing the figure of a dervish in a patched robe, the king thought: “Every day he comes to the palace, but stubbornly does not want to return to our conversation about teaching. True, he takes part in many affairs of the court: talking, laughing, eating, and, apparently, sleeping. Maybe he is waiting for some sign?
And then one day the right wave of the invisible ran onto the shore of opportunity. A conversation began among those present in the throne room, and someone said:
“Daud from Sahil, the greatest singer in the world, stopped in our city.
The king was eager to hear him.
The court master of ceremonies went to the singer and announced to him the king’s desire. Daoud, the king among singers, replied:
“If he just wants to see me, I will come.” But if he wants to hear me sing, he must, like all people, wait until inspiration comes to me. I have surpassed other singers only because I know when to sing and when not to sing. Knowing this secret, anyone can become great.
These words were conveyed to the king, and he exclaimed:
- Is there really no way to make this singer sing for me!?
Then the dervish came forward and said:
- Your Majesty, we will go to this singer.
The king ordered simple clothes of a city dweller to be brought to him and changed his clothes. Together with the dervish, they went to the singer. Once at the singer’s house, they knocked. Daoud's voice came from behind the door:
- I'm not singing today. Go your own way.
Then the dervish sat down on the step and sang Daoud’s favorite song. The king was fascinated by the melodic voice of the dervish and was delighted. But the dervish deliberately fudged it a little at the end of the song, so that the king did not even notice. Daoud wanted to correct him. He opened the door and began to sing. The king and the dervish froze in amazement, listening to the sweet-sounding singing of the “nightingale Sahili.” When Daoud finished singing, the king presented him with a generous gift. Then, turning to the dervish, he said:
- O man of wisdom! I admire how cleverly you got the nightingale to sing for us. I would like to appoint you as an advisor to the court.
Dervish replied:
- Your Majesty, you can hear a song only if there is a singer, if you are present, and if a person is present who can create conditions that encourage the singer to sing. Time, place, people and method.
Translated from Russian · original on wisdomlib.ru