Part of our long-running Saturday Sufi Wisdom series.
Khaja Bahaudin Naqshband, aka. Muhammad Bahauddan Uways al-Bukhari "Imam of the Tariqah" (d. circa 1389), was one of the great Masters of the Khagajan school, now known as the Naqshbandi Chain of Sufism. The school arose in Central Asia, and remains active to this day. They are not, to put it mildly, terribly fond of the Wahabbis. Anyway, I was reading this item is Idries Shah's Way of the Sufi and thought it a nice extension of last week's post:
One day, a man came to the great teacher Bahauddan.
He asked for help in his problems, and guidance on the path of the Teaching.
Bahauddan told him to abandon spiritual studies, and leave his court at once.
A kind-hearted visitor began to remonstrate with Bahauddan. "You shall have a demonstration," said the sage.
At that moment a bird flew into the room, darting hither and thither, not knowing where to go in order to escape.
The Sufi waited until the bird had settled near the only open window of the chamber, and then suddenly clapped his hands.
Alarmed, the bird flew straight through the opening of the window, to freedom.
"To him that sound must have been something of a shock, even an affront, do you not agree?" Said Bahauddan.
Most Sufi stories operate on multiple levels. What's this one trying to tell us?
Great example!
If you can't find your way out yourself and lull into being captive, someone has to shock you into doing that.
Couldn't have been a better example from the same culture, for times like now
I have comment on how the story applies to us now.
There must be good people in the Muslim world who are shocked by its global outpouring of depravity, and would like to quit Islam, to renounce it and fly free if they could.
I think we should help them fly free. I think we should do all we can for them, and fight if need be for their right to change their religion.
Nobody should have the right to make them afraid. Changing your religion to what you think is better - or just away from what you think is wrong - should be a universal human right.
Ronald Reagan said: "Tear down this wall!" That was the Berlin wall that kept people in the political system that was imposed on and that most of them were born in. Now it's a religious system of coercion that menaces us, I think we should call for the freedom most relevant in the new context. I think the least we should do is demand that the wall of fear that keeps people inside a religious system they may not like also be torn down.
It does no good to frighten the bird if the window is closed.
Open the window!
As it was for Bahauddan, so it is for all -- if you are patient, the way will show itself.
But I wonder, did the bird fly in the room at the same time everyday? Okay, I won't be a cynic but the question remains: was the sharp clap needed to guide the bird resting on the window sill to take the way it had been seeking? After all, resting on the sill, the bird knew the path. It can't be it did not know.
Hmm, could the point of startling the bird to take the known path be to do so before it was startled to take a wrong one. That seems to make sense with the man beset by problems. He already knew the right path -- addressing his problems via the Teachings. The danger to him then was to sit on the sill where he was vulnerable to the commotion of the wrong guidance, not just then but at some other time in his life. So, Bahauddan startled him to in a way to guard him against that.
I doubt that Bahauddan's action would have been the same for all who came before him beset with problems but only those who already know the Teachings and desire to follow them. The danger for the latter is the temptation to rely on the interpretation of the knowledge rather than the knowledge, for guidance, particularly interpretations by others.
I think I just told you to ignore this post.
Good comments, all. Nice one, Dusty.
This one tells us :
If you are in the wrong spot and confused, sometimes the best thing that can happen to you is to be told to leave.
Both came in confused and flailing about.
The student was told to go, as the bird was told to go.
Secondly, even in those days people protested a lot ( demonstration )*lol*. The Sufi didn't care that a demonstration may come against him for dismissing the pupil, proving thus he clapped the bird away as well.
Finally, given the last line, it is implied the the Sufi gave spiritual guidance to the student by dismissing him, sending a "shock" that could deliver the solution, as so for the bird.
I am studying in Denmark right now, so these cartoons have me thinking.
Some public opinion here is that nothing should be done to upset the Muslim population. However, after reading Hirsi Ali's speech I considered this... many Muslims now residing in Europe came only for a better social service deal, while others came for the freedom. Still others never even realize(d) that they want(ed) the freedom, they just came for the social services.
If you tiptoe around their faith and their ideas they can continue to raise a subjugated people right in the midst of Europe. Their women wear the veil out of fright, of both Europeans and their own men. Their men feel put upon and stereotyped even as others fulfill these prejudices with their actions.
This cannot go on. It is the duty of their hosts, the benefactors of Liberal Democracy to shock them out of their ways by simply being themselves.
This is, perhaps, the great value and service of Americans. Everywhere we go we tread on people's toes. We clap our hands, and the startled birds may complain (like the French), but being startled can be a good thing.
My Danish professor said the other day "Don't leave us alone with the Danes". He meant that they needed the EU and the Muslim immigrants, but it might well apply to the whole world and Americans. You need is to challenge your worldviews and your ways. Non?
It's not that the bird did not know that the opening is there,it is always there and open. The problem with the bird and us are that most of the time we need a push from outside to even make us move in the direction of truth and engligthment. We are bogged down with our nafs and love of this world to the extent of cannot/ would not see huge window right in front of us.It is always there, open.