Issue nº 100

On the complicated relationship with others

The hundredth name (Sufi tradition)
     A student asked his Sufi master to reveal God’s fifth name.
     “Whoever knows that name is capable of changing History,” he answered. The master asked him to spend the whole day at the gates of the city.
     The boy returned the following day.
     “What did you see?” asked the master.
     “An old man tried to enter the city to sell a sheep. The guard wanted to tax him but the man had no money. So the guard stole his sheep and chased him off. I thought: if I only knew God’s hidden name I could change this situation.”
     “You could have prevented this injustice, but you preferred to stand there dreaming of a revelation. Such stupidity! Well, then, I shall tell you God’s fifth name: act on behalf of others. That’s the only way we can change History.”

I don’t mean to offend you (Islamic tradition)
     During his pilgrimage to Mecca, a holy man began to feel the presence of God. In the midst of a trance he knelt down, hid his face and prayed: “Lord, I ask for only one thing in life: that I be given the grace of never offending you.”
     “I cannot grant you that grace,” answered the Almighty. ‘If you don’t offend me I shall have no reason to pardon you. If I have no need to pardon you, soon you will also forget the importance of mercy towards others. So go on your way with Love and let me grant pardon now and again so that you don’t forget that virtue as well.”

Pupils and teachers (Sufi tradition)
     Nasrudin - the eternal character of Sufi legends – was standing on his doorstep when he saw a teacher passing by with his pupils.
     “Where are you off to?” he asked.
     “We’re going to pray that God puts a stop to corruption, for He always heeds the prayers of children,” answered the teacher.
     “A good education would have put an end to that already. Teach the youngsters to be more responsible than their parents and uncles.”
     The teacher felt offended: “What an example of lack of faith! The prayers of children can change anything!”
     “God listens to all who pray. If he only listened to the prayers of children there wouldn’t be a single school in the whole country, for there is nothing they hate more than their teachers.”

I met a fiddler (Hassidic tradition)
     A disciple approached Rabbi Moshé Haim: “Today I met a man who laughed and scorned my striving for spiritual grace.”
     “Today I met a fiddler,” answered the Rabbi. “He played with such divine inspiration that all who drew near began to sing and dance. I followed suit and was praising Creation with my joy when I saw a deaf man approach us. He stood there watching the fiddler and everyone dancing away. Finally he said in a loud voice: “What an indecent and grotesque display by a bunch of madmen!”
     And Moshé Haim concluded: “Those who don’t know how to listen to God’s music can only conclude that it is useless.”

New book
“The Zahir” is being published all over the world this year. Click here for more information.