The Sufis aren't the only ones who use "wisdom stories" to teach. So do Judaism's own Chasidim. For instance, here's one that the famed Rebbe Nachman of Bratslav used to tell:
"Once there was a young man who travelled through many distant countries in search of a master craftsman from whom he could learn a trade. After a while he returned home and announced to his family that he had become an expert designer of chandeliers. "I have become so talented in my new-found trade," he explained, "that my work far surpasses even the greatest masterpieces of my teacher." Then, realizing that the family was a bit dubious about the measure of his success, he asked his father to invite the leading chandelier craftsmen in the city to view a sample of his own creation. The craftsmen came and carefully examined the young man's work. They all agreed that they had never before laid eyes on such a monstrosity...."Read the rest!
Good one! Makes you think, especially when it concerns your own creative skill. When others critique you, it is usually more telling about them than what they critique.
Note too that it speaks about your own attitude towards your creations -- and our lack of objectivity when judging ourselves and our efforts. All elements in the "monstrosity" were the flaws of the supposed masters rather than imitations of their best work, yet each picked out his own work as the only good portion of the whole.
Hi.
I think the young chandelier-maker was radically wrong. His attitude was all about surpassing others, and in practice what he made was a stunt to put others down. No matter how clever this stunt was, it was still a put-down, not a chandelier, which it was his business to make.
The humblest apprentice who made a chandelier with the single, correct intention to do a good job would have been his superior.
There once was a nun who told her friend that many of the other nuns at her convent seemed ill-suited to their calling: they had strong libidoes, and found chastity a burden, not an easy and proper state, as she did. While they were stressed, she was at peace with her vows.
To which her friend replied: "Well, there's always vanity."
To which the vain nun had no answer.
Any road which passes through disparagement of others for their innocent flaws, or over-concentration on the mistakes of others, is not a road to perfection. Wrong way: go back.