Page 154 - The Book of Rumi

Intelligence

young man was in trouble. He faced a dire problem that was consuming
A his life, making him miserable company for everyone he knew. Hard as
he tried, he couldn’t fi gure out how to free himself from the web that he had,
through his own behavior, spun and entangled himself in. He took endless
walks and spent hours on end in different teashops and coffee houses, engag-
ing with strangers, seeking advice. Despite his efforts, however, his problem
seemed unsolvable.
One day, he entered a particular coffee house for the fi rst time and
saw an older man sitting quietly in a corner. He recognized him immedi-
ately but didn’t approach him right away. Instead, he sat at a table where he
could keep the man’s profi le in view. He studied the older man with inter-
est, remembering him as highly intelligent and a fair judge of character.
After a few long minutes, he mustered his courage and walked over to the
man’s table, asking if he could sit down for just a minute. The man looked
up from his book but did not seem very pleased at this interruption. He
nevertheless nodded, and the young man quickly sat down and immediately
posed his query. The older man was taken aback at the younger one’s candor
and shook his head thoughtfully.
“My good man, you must seek the advice of someone else, someone
who’s your friend. I’m your staunch enemy and will only misguide you. Why
would you want my advice? You need a compassionate ear, one who only wants
the best for you. You can be certain that you’ve no need for any words of
advice I may have!” he suggested honestly. “If you were sitting in the midst of
fi re but had a friend with you, you’d think you were in a rose garden! And if
you were in the middle of the most heavenly garden but were in the company
of enemies, you’d feel like you were at the epicenter of a bonfi re! So go on and
fi nd a counselor who’s your true friend.”
The older man had spoken his truth, hoping that his advice had not fallen
on deaf ears and that he would be left alone in peace now.

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