Shah Firoz, who is remembered as the teacher of many eminent Sufis, throughout his life people often asked why he did not teach them faster. He said: “Because even the most devoted cannot be taught at all until he reaches a certain stage of understanding. He is here in body, but absent in any other sense.”
He also told this story.
There once lived a king who wished to become a Sufi. The Sufi he addressed said:
“Your Majesty, you cannot learn from the Chosen until you overcome inattention.”
- Inattention! - said the king. “Am I not attentive to my religious duties?” Don't I care about the people? Who can you find in my kingdom who is dissatisfied with me because of my carelessness?
“Exactly, it is difficult,” said the Sufi, “because mindfulness is so manifest in some things that people imagine that it must be part of their structure.”
“I cannot understand a remark of this kind,” said the king, “and perhaps you will consider me unsuitable because I cannot solve your riddles.”
“Not at all,” the Sufi objected, “but a person who claims to become a student cannot argue with his supposed teacher.” Sufis deal with knowledge, not with arguments. However, I will give you a demonstration of your carelessness if you agree to submit to the test and do what I ask.
The king agreed to conduct the test, and the Sufi asked him to answer: “I believe you,” to everything that was said to him over the next few minutes.
“If this is a test, it is very easy to start becoming a Sufi,” said the king.
Then the Sufi began the test. He said:
- I am a man from heaven.
“I believe you,” said the king.
The Sufi continued:
- Ordinary people try to gain knowledge, Sufis have so much that they try not to use it.
“I believe you,” said the king.
Then the Sufi said:
- I'm a liar.
“I believe you,” said the king.
The Sufi continued:
- I was present at your birth.
“I believe you,” said the king.
“And your father was a peasant,” said the Sufi.
- This is a lie! - exclaimed the king.
The Sufi looked at him with regret and said:
- Since you are so inattentive that you cannot remember for one minute to say the phrase “I believe you” without showing prejudice, not a single Sufi is able to teach you anything.
Translated from Russian · original on wisdomlib.ru