One person said to Bayazid:
“I fasted and prayed for 30 years, but I never came close to understanding God.
- This is not surprising. You cannot move forward to realize God because vanity hinders you. There is one way to get rid of it, but, in my opinion, it will not suit you,” the sage answered.
“Name him,” the man asked Bayazid and said:
“You need to go to the barber and shave off your venerable beard.” Then undress, gird yourself with a sash and put a bag of nuts around your neck. Then go to the market square and shout: “I’ll give a nut to the brat who hits me on the neck!” When there are no nuts left in the bag, you need to go to the courthouse and show yourself in this form to the elders.
- But I can’t do this! — the man begged. “Isn’t there another way?”
“No, this is the only way to achieve the goal,” said Bayazid. “If you don’t like him, you’re incurable.”
Translated from Russian · original on wisdomlib.ru