nivek
As Above So Below
(An old Sufi story)
A certain man was believed to have died and was being prepared for burial when suddenly he revived. He sat up but was so shocked by the scene around him that he fainted. He was put into the coffin and the funeral party set off for the cemetery. Just as they all arrived at the grave site the man regained consciousness and lifted the coffin lid crying out for help.
“This is not possible that this man has revived.”, said the mourners. “He was certified dead by competent experts.”
“But I am alive.”, shouted the man.
He appealed to a well known and impartial scientist who was present.
“Just a moment.”, said the expert.
The expert turned to the mourners and counted them.
“Now we have heard what the alleged deceased man has had to say. You fifty witnesses tell me what you regard as the truth.”, announced the expert.
“He is dead.”, shouted all fifty witnesses.
“Bury him.”, said the expert. And so the man was nailed into the coffin and was buried.
.
A certain man was believed to have died and was being prepared for burial when suddenly he revived. He sat up but was so shocked by the scene around him that he fainted. He was put into the coffin and the funeral party set off for the cemetery. Just as they all arrived at the grave site the man regained consciousness and lifted the coffin lid crying out for help.
“This is not possible that this man has revived.”, said the mourners. “He was certified dead by competent experts.”
“But I am alive.”, shouted the man.
He appealed to a well known and impartial scientist who was present.
“Just a moment.”, said the expert.
The expert turned to the mourners and counted them.
“Now we have heard what the alleged deceased man has had to say. You fifty witnesses tell me what you regard as the truth.”, announced the expert.
“He is dead.”, shouted all fifty witnesses.
“Bury him.”, said the expert. And so the man was nailed into the coffin and was buried.
.
nivek
As Above So Below
"What is Fate?" Nasrudin was asked by a Scholar.
"An endless succession of intertwined events, each influencing the other."
"That is hardly a satisfactory answer. I believe in cause and effect."
"Very well," said the Mulla, "look at that." He pointed to a procession passing in the street."
"That man is being taken to be hanged. Is that because someone gave him a silver piece and enabled him to buy the knife with which he committed the murder; or because someone saw him do it; or because nobody stopped him?"
.
"An endless succession of intertwined events, each influencing the other."
"That is hardly a satisfactory answer. I believe in cause and effect."
"Very well," said the Mulla, "look at that." He pointed to a procession passing in the street."
"That man is being taken to be hanged. Is that because someone gave him a silver piece and enabled him to buy the knife with which he committed the murder; or because someone saw him do it; or because nobody stopped him?"
.
nivek
As Above So Below
Three travelers on a long and exhausting journey had become companions, and shared the same pleasures and sorrows, pooling all their resources. After many days they realized that all they had between them was a piece of bread and a mouthful of water in a flask.
They fell to quarreling as to who should have all the food.
Making no progress on this score, they tried to divide the bread and water. Still they could not arrive at a conclusion. As dusk was falling, one finally suggested that they should sleep. When they awoke, the person who had had the most remarkable dream would decide what should be done. The next morning the three rose as the sun came up.
'This is my dream,' said the first: 'I was carried away to places such as cannot be described, so wonderful and serene were they. I met a wise man who said to me: "You deserve the food, for your past and future life are worthy and suitable subjects for admiration." '
'How strange,' said the second man. 'For in my dream, I actually saw all my past and my future. In my future I saw a man of all-knowledge, who said: "You deserve the bread more than your friends, for you are more learned and patient. You must be well-nurtured, for you are destined to lead men." '
The third traveler said: 'In my dream I saw nothing, heard nothing, said nothing. I felt a compelling presence which forced me to get up, find the bread and water—and consume them then and there. And this is what I did.'
.
They fell to quarreling as to who should have all the food.
Making no progress on this score, they tried to divide the bread and water. Still they could not arrive at a conclusion. As dusk was falling, one finally suggested that they should sleep. When they awoke, the person who had had the most remarkable dream would decide what should be done. The next morning the three rose as the sun came up.
'This is my dream,' said the first: 'I was carried away to places such as cannot be described, so wonderful and serene were they. I met a wise man who said to me: "You deserve the food, for your past and future life are worthy and suitable subjects for admiration." '
'How strange,' said the second man. 'For in my dream, I actually saw all my past and my future. In my future I saw a man of all-knowledge, who said: "You deserve the bread more than your friends, for you are more learned and patient. You must be well-nurtured, for you are destined to lead men." '
The third traveler said: 'In my dream I saw nothing, heard nothing, said nothing. I felt a compelling presence which forced me to get up, find the bread and water—and consume them then and there. And this is what I did.'
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