Page 98 - The Book of Rumi

Reprimanding a Darvish

ne day, a group of Sufi s went to their shaykh to complain about one
Oof their fellow darvishes. “Master, we need your help,” they pleaded.
“Please save us from this man’s company, for he’ll soon put an end to us all.”
“What’s your complaint, dear fellows?” asked the shaykh sympathetically.
“This chap is supposed to be a proper Sufi , but he suffers from three

major character flaws,” one of the darvishes protested. “When he speaks, it’s
like a siren going off, loud and unremitting. When he eats, he polishes off the
portions of twenty men! And when he sleeps, oh my God when he sleeps, it’s
as if he’ll never wake up again!”
The shaykh listened to his students patiently and in due time called the
unpopular man to his presence. He kindly advised him to change his ways
and always adopt the middle path, never exaggerate in his behavior. The man
listened to his spiritual master quietly, trying to grasp the essence of what he
was being told. The master shaykh realized that this was a great opportunity
to impart essential Sufi teachings, interweaving them with his advice.
“When people exaggerate, they eventually become ill,” said the shaykh
with gravity. “One must always cooperate with one’s fellow Sufi s; otherwise,
separation and alienation will result. With the masses, Moses always spoke just
enough, but with close friends he elaborated his thoughts much more freely.
Once when he rambled on a bit too long with the prophet Khidr, he was
scolded and sent away, rebuked for having spoken far too much! If he wanted
to stay in Khidr’s company, he was told that he would have to remain mute and
blind. Now, my good man, if you, too, continue with your excessive behavior,
you’ll ultimately alienate all your friends!”
The shaykh felt that his words were slowly penetrating the young Sufi ’s
consciousness and decided to seize the moment and continue with his spiri-
tual advice.
“You’re still a young Sufi ; choose your companions carefully. Find the
ones who thirst for your words. Try to live like a naked man, without any
embellishment or decoration. Seek the company of those who are free of these

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