THE SUPPLEMENTARY PAPERS MYSTICISM 5 Mastery
Here is an anecdote about dervishes, who sometimes do humorous things. There was a certain dervish sitting in the shade of a tree, who was always very kind and helpful to those who came to see him. But one day a young man, a soldier, was passing by and he said something to the dervish which made him cross. So they had a few words. From that the soldier began to bully him, and give blows on his back and neck, without the dervish making any protest. The soldier then went on his way.
A wise man sitting near by was thinking to himself: "what a funny thing, for this dervish is always good and kind and hospitable. So why should that soldier be so cross as to punch him in the neck and over the body." So he observed attentively, and noticed the dervish saying to himself, after several blows, "is it enough, or do you want some more?" Then the wise man asked himself: "what does he mean by: 'do you want more?' "
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