Three men made their way to the circle of a Sufi seeking admission to his teachings. Almost at once one of them detached himself from the group, angered by the erratic behaviour of the Master.
On the Master's instructions the second was told by a disciple that the sage was a fraud. He withdrew soon afterwards.
The third was allowed to talk but was offered no teaching for so long that he lost patience and left the circle.
When they had all gone away the teacher instructed his circle thus:
The first man was an illustration of the principle: Do not judge fundamental things by sight.
The second was an illustration of the injunction: Do not judge things of deep importance by hearing.
The third was an example of the dictum: Never judge by speech or the lack of it.
When asked by a disciple why the applicants could not have been instructed in this matter the Master retorted: I am here to give real knowledge, not to teach what people pretend that they have already learned at their mother's knees.
On the Master's instructions the second was told by a disciple that the sage was a fraud. He withdrew soon afterwards.
The third was allowed to talk but was offered no teaching for so long that he lost patience and left the circle.
When they had all gone away the teacher instructed his circle thus:
The first man was an illustration of the principle: Do not judge fundamental things by sight.
The second was an illustration of the injunction: Do not judge things of deep importance by hearing.
The third was an example of the dictum: Never judge by speech or the lack of it.
When asked by a disciple why the applicants could not have been instructed in this matter the Master retorted: I am here to give real knowledge, not to teach what people pretend that they have already learned at their mother's knees.
