Hasidism is a religious and mystical trend in Judaism that arose in the 18th century. The founder of the movement of Hasidism - Rabbi Israel ben Eliezer (Baal Shem Tov or BESHT). The main idea of ​​Hasidism is that a feeling, an emotion, is introduced into religious service. By BESHT- even an unlearned Jew ( am aaretz) can reach the highest level approach to the Creator, which was previously considered possible only with many years of in-depth study Torah and Talmud . Hasidism in Jewish history has played a truly revolutionary role, putting at the service of the Creator not so much in-depth study as pure simple faith, emotionality, devotion.Very soon Hasidism, in exact accordance with its name ( One of the meanings of the word "chesed" in Hebrew is distribution), spread across Eastern and Southern Europe. The Hasidim listened and passed on the parables, stories and speeches they heard from the tzaddiks.For a long time, Hasidic stories existed only in oral form, passed from teacher to student and then to the people. Later, they began to be recorded by the students and descendants of the tzaddiks, and only in later times were they written down and published by professional writers.

Hasidic stories cannot be treated simply as folk tales, although many elements of fabulousness are present in them. In them, the border between reality and legend, between the material world and the spiritual worlds is not only blurred, but indefinite. Worlds flow one into another, and a person is always at the forefront, at the junction of worlds and realities, so that the tzadik only needs to be gently pushed - and his Hasid is already flying over the world, as in Chagall's paintings. Where the tzaddik lives, heaven and earth meet. Where the tzaddik lives, miracles lie underfoot, and all that remains is to pick them up for the benefit of oneself and others. Hasidic stories often resemble a fairy tale. Only in an ordinary fairy tale the hero defeats external evil, and in a Hasidic parable a person defeats internal evil - yetzer a ra. Although, I must say, in these stories there is no shortage of either evil sorcerers or black spirits. Quite often the tzadik fights with himself. Satan - leader dark side a world that is invariably put to shame.

Next book Ezra Hovkina also contains retellings of Hasidic parables - this« Tales for adults » . From this book we will take a very short, but very characteristic for the author's style, story:

« sick wallet
........

- Once I was offered a big deal with a shipment of timber. It required a lot of money to be invested, but if things went smoothly, fabulous profits were expected. And if not, everything is lost ... I came to Lubavitch to see the Rebbe Sholom Dovberu and asked: "Buy?" He replied: "Buy." I did so, but delays began, time passed, and all my thousands were gone ...
Reb Shmuel was silent. Several people, unable to withstand the tension, exclaimed at once:
- Where is the miracle?
- The miracle is that after this incident I remained his Hasid.

Ezra Hovkin brings in Hasidic parables, often long known from booksM. Buber and SH-Y Agnon, warmth and lyricism, unusual for academic retellings. In his books one can find historical inserts separated from the main text, Jewish signs, quotations from old books. Khovkin does not just tell, he creates an atmosphere that helps the modern reader to immerse himself in the bygone world of Jewish shtetls with their primitive life and high spirituality. Here is how he writes about it in his book« Sage-cabman ":

“Chickens by the wattle fence, a lime-smeared little house with a thatched roof ... Why does the soul tremble when you approach this house? Because the Rebbe lives there - a righteous man, a sage, a spiritual mentor of his Hasidim... It doesn't matter how he is dressed, it doesn't matter how many Hasidim he has, it doesn't matter what dialect of Yiddish, Ukrainian or Lithuanian, he speaks. The main thing is that this is the soul that came down to help us from the very top, the soul of brilliant purity ... Now I will cross the threshold and hear something unexpected, something that will turn my soul upside down. Maybe the Rebbe will reach out his hand to me and say, "Shalom..."

Book of the previous Lubavitch Rebbe Yosef Yitzchak Schneerzon "Sefer Gazihroinois. Origins of Hasidism » - the source from which the book was written E. Khovkina "The Wanderings of Borukh". The language of this book is strict, sometimes even concise, but its content is enough for a whole library. Throughout his life, the Rebbe collected stories about real events, and only such stories are included in his book. That is why today modern writers create many of their books on the basis of this book. Nevertheless, the reader should turn to the original source, if only to learn with complete certainty about the events of Jewish life that took place four hundred years ago, to feel the style of presentation of the Rebbe - the righteous and sage.

“In the tone of a man who looks down at the rabbi, the prince commandingly told him: “Let it be your way that the Torah forbids the marriage of a kohen to a divorced woman. But since Zeligman refuses the honorable title of kohen, I order that you perform the wedding ceremony and let him live in peace with the woman chosen by his heart.
The old rabbi of Krakow is a gaon and a tzadik of r. Yitzhak was not afraid of the prince and his order. He calmly but decisively explained to the prince:
- I would gladly fulfill your order, but I am obliged to fulfill the will of a higher authority - the Lord of the world. The Torah forbids a kohen to marry a divorced woman, and I will never go against the Torah - to marry Zeligman to a divorced woman.
Hearing these words, the prince shouted angrily:
- And I insist on carrying out my order. You must submit to my will.
The rabbi looked at the bride and groom and with unshakable determination said:
- I warn you that I will not violate the prohibition of the Torah, even if it costs me my life. I will not marry you, no matter what happens to me.
Then the rabbi began pitifully begging them to give up the criminal idea of ​​getting married. But Zeligman and the divorced woman remained with her. Seeing that he would not achieve anything with them, the rabbi exclaimed loudly:
- Ruler of the world! They want to force me to transgress Your prohibition. I ask You to sanctify Your name, so that those who keep the precepts of Your Torah and sanctify Your name in absolute and pure faith in You, the Lord of the world, are strengthened in this faith.
The rabbi had no time to finish his spiritual appeal to the Almighty, when a cry of horror was heard in the air, escaping from the chest of the bride and groom. The earth opened up, and a terrible abyss looked at them. Before they had time to move away from the edge of the abyss, as she swallowed them up to the throat in an instant. The huge crowd that witnessed this terrible phenomenon was dumbfounded. Everyone was gripped by an indescribable fear. A few seconds later, the bride and groom were completely swallowed by the abyss. The gaping abyss closed again; everything was wiped off the face of the earth, as if nothing had happened.”

Read the continuation of the article.

Rebbe Issachar Dov from Radoshitsy went to visit his rebbe, Jacob Yitzhak, Jose the seer from Lublin. When he came to the teacher, he asked:

“Show me one universal way in which we can all serve the Lord.

- One way? the Seer asked. - And where did you get the idea that such a thing exists? Or are people so similar that one and only practice is suitable for everyone? ..
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The price of wisdom

Rebbe Shneur Zalman of Lyad had a huge library of treatises and sacred texts. On one of the shelves stood a rare manuscript on Hasidism, on title page which read: "Whoever opens this book will be cursed by Rabbainu Gershon - in this world and the Hereafter"...
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Ability to read minds

"Then tell me what I'm thinking at the moment?" Rebbe Nachman asked...
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A dangerous person

“Be careful, your coachman is a dangerous and evil man,” the Baal Shem Tov once said to one of his followers. - I saw that he entered the church and did not cross himself. If he does not love his God, how will he love you?
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Invisible Support

The student asked the Baal Shem:

– Why does it happen that one who clings to God and knows that he is close to him sometimes experiences a feeling of separation and removal?

Fomina N. E.

Title: Buy the book "Proverbs. Hasidic, Egyptian, Sufi": feed_id: 5296 pattern_id: 2266 book_

Time to take a look at the sky

One day, Rabbi Nachman looked out of the window at the market square and saw one of his students, a certain Haykel. He looked very worried. Nachman called him and invited him to enter the house and talk. - Tell me, Haikel, - Nachman began the conversation, - have you seen the sky today? - No, rabbi, I was not up to it. - And the street, Haykel, have you seen the street today? Yes, rabbi.

And what did you see, tell me.

Well, I saw people... horses... carts. I saw merchants praising their goods and waving their arms... Peasants arguing about something... Men and women running back and forth...

Eh, Haykel, Haykel, - Nachman shook his head dejectedly, - and in fifty years, and in a hundred, there will be a street in this place, and there will be a market. Other carriages will carry other people, other merchants will wave their hands, and other peasants will argue among themselves. But neither me nor you, Haikel, will be gone. So tell me, what's the point of all this running around if you don't have time to just look at the sky?

audacity

A Jew says a prayer every morning, in which, among other things, he asks to be protected from insolence. But on the other hand, the code of everyday Jewish laws begins with the fact that every Jew must be bold and assertive, like a tiger. This contradiction between the two commandments, the rabbi from Kotzk resolved as follows: “There is the audacity of a tiger and there is the audacity of a dog,” he said. - Tiger kills his enemy instantly and in complete silence. The dog, on the other hand, meets the enemy with a loud bark, but often does not even dare to approach him. And that is why we pray that our audacity will be like that of a tiger, not a dog.”

Cedar and palm

The book of Psalms of King David says: "The righteous, like a palm tree, will spread its branches, like a cedar of Lebanon, it will ascend." The Mezhirechi rabbi interpreted these words in this way: “In this psalm in question about two types of righteous people. Some of them are surrounded by people, like a date palm in an oasis. The noise of the branches is like their voice, addressed to their neighbors. Other righteous people are like a cedar growing in the mountains: their head is in the sky, and there is not a soul around. Cedar looks much more majestic than a noisy palm tree. However, it is of little use, because, unlike the palm tree, it is barren.

mystery book

A famous Hasidic master had a book that he would not allow anyone to look into. The time came and he closed the windows and doors, and his disciples thought: "The teacher must be reading a mysterious book." When someone came to him at this time, he carefully closed the book and put it away. He even forbade touching her.

When the master died, the first thing his students rushed to the book - after all, no one could forbid them to look into it. They thought that the moment had come when they too would recognize some great secret previously known only to the master. But when they opened the book, they saw that all the pages in it were completely blank and only one sentence was written on the first page: "When you can distinguish between the shell and the content, then you will become really wise."

money for repairs

One man invited a craftsman to paint his boat. During the work, the master found a hole in the bottom and patched it up. The owner of the boat settled with the master, and they parted. But the next day the owner of the boat again came to the boatman and handed him an impressive purse of gold.

This is for you, he said, money for repairs.

What money? - the master was completely sincerely surprised, - after all, you paid me in full yesterday.

That's right, - the owner answered, - but that was the money for painting, and this money I pay for the repair of the boat.

Do you mean that little hole I patched up? But it only took me a few minutes, and I did not even think of charging you money for such a trifle.

I forgot to tell you about this hole, and if you did not pay attention to this, as you say, trifle, then it would most likely cost the lives of my children. Yesterday they took a boat without permission and sailed far out to sea. I was desperate and thought I would never see them again. But they returned safely. Your care and selflessness saved their lives.

New inventions and opportunity to learn

Every thing teaches us something,” a rabbi once said to his Hasidim. - Everything that is in this world exists to instruct us. Wisdom gives us not only the creation of the Lord, but also what is made by people.

One of the Hasidim doubted:

Teacher, what then can teach us, for example, Railway?

The fact that if you are late even for a few moments, you can lose everything, - the rabbi answered.

And the telegraph? continued the still doubting Hasid.

Because every word we say or write counts.

And the phone?

Because they hear everything we say here.

Not a word, but a deed

One day Rabbi Bunim, the father of five-year-old Simcha Bunim, was visited by his colleagues - learned rabbis. The Rebbe, as expected, seated the guests at the table, served them food and, when they began to eat, called his son:

Simcha, son, find us a new interpretation of the laws of hospitality, so that we have something to tell our guests while they eat.

The boy went into the next room, stayed there for a few minutes, and then returned. The guests were amazed at his quick return. Simcha, despite his young age, showed remarkable abilities in the interpretation of the Torah, but even such a capable child, as it seemed, could not quickly find a new interpretation of the laws of hospitality.

Well, son, have you found a new interpretation for us? his father asked his son.

No, papa, I have nothing to tell you, - answered Simha, - but I would like to show you and the guests something.

It was evident that Rabbi Bunim was somewhat disappointed with his son's answer, while other rabbis were confirmed in their doubts about the boy's abilities. However, Simha continued to insist:

Let's go to the room and I'll show you everything.

Upon entering the room, the rabbis saw that the boy had made a bed for each of the guests, all the pillows were neatly fluffed up, and there were blankets on the beds.

So tell us, little one, - one of the guests turned to Simcha, - what is your new interpretation?

It's simple, teacher, - the boy answered politely, - if I only said a few new words to you, then you would rest only in your imagination.

Nobody - except you

One day a woman came to Rabbi Shalom.

Rebbe,” she said, finishing the story of some personal misfortune of hers, “I did everything in my power. Now everything depends on the mercy of the Lord, and I can receive it only through you. Please, pray to the Lord for me!

However, the Rebbe refused the woman's request, saying only:

Faith is the most important thing.

This answer completely upset the petitioner. She was an honest woman who needed help, and it seemed to her that the rabbi had no reason to refuse her. She plucked up courage and said:

Will I argue with such a respected person as you, Rebbe?

And yet you argue with me,” Shalom replied. "Don't you think you understand the situation better than I do?"

Let me be an unlearned woman, but I know something from the Torah,” the petitioner said calmly. - There, for example, it is said that when our ancestors were almost overtaken by the army of the pharaoh, God first saved them, and only then did they believe in Him. That is, salvation was before faith. That's the way I am. If God help me now, then I will surely believe too.

These words angered Rabbi Shalom:

Who are you?! he shouted. - This was still not enough for me for some illiterate woman to teach me the interpretation of the Torah. Me, whom so far no one has been able to surpass in this!

The woman stood silent. She no longer argued with the rebbe, but she had no intention of leaving either. And suddenly a smile appeared on the angry face of the Rebbe, and then he burst out laughing quite sincerely.

However, what am I talking about, - Shalom said through laughter. - No one - until today! That's right, no one - except you, wise woman!

Then the Rebbe prayed for this woman, and the Lord gave her happiness.

Why matzah first

Once Rabbi Yitzhak-Meir was asked:

Why do Jews first eat matzah, which is a symbol of freedom, and only then maror, a symbol of slavery?

Because, - answered the rabbi, - because of the long stay in slavery, the Jews have dulled their feelings and they have already ceased to understand what is the essence of their suffering. Until there was hope for liberation, they did not even feel how bitter their fate was. And only then did they first feel the bitter taste of slavery.

Successor

One day the Baal Shem Tov and his disciples were talking about a successor. The teacher told the students that he would not directly indicate a successor to them, but ordered, after his death, to look for a new mentor on the side.

But how do we know it? the students asked.

You will ask all applicants the same question: "How to overcome vanity?"

And the one who answers will be our teacher?

Just the opposite. Walk away from anyone who tells you they know the answer to this question. Because such a person is a liar. Vanity always goes along with a sense of one's own "I". But how can you free yourself from yourself? To think otherwise is the pinnacle of vanity.

One of the students remarked:

Teacher, but aren't we created in the likeness of God, isn't His image reflected in us? And since He is not vain, it means that we cannot be vain.

The Baal Shem Tov replied:

It says, "Lord, you are clothed with glory and majesty." But the greatness of the Lord should be understood as humility. God is infinite, and humility is infinite. You are right when you say that God is reflected in people. But just as everything that is reflected in a mirror turns upside down, so the divine often turns upside down in a person. Therefore, how great is the humility of the Lord, so great is human pride.

Time passed and the Baal Shem Tov died. His disciples, as it was supposed to, mourned for him, and then went in search of a successor. They met with many sages and righteous men, and each one was asked how to cast out vanity. And from everyone they heard this or that answer. Finally, the students of the Baal Shem Tov asked Rabbi Pinchas this question. He shook his head.

I, like you, am afraid of vanity and cannot say how to get rid of it.

Here is our new rebbe! exclaimed the overjoyed students.

The glorious city of Kock

Before moving to Kotz, Rabbi Mendele and his disciples lived in the city of Tomashov. But it was difficult for them to come to terms with the cold indifference of the locals, and they decided to look for a new place. They wandered for several months until they finally arrived in Kock. As they entered the city, they were met with a hail of stones. "That's a good sign," he said.

Mendele. - We will stop here. In this city, at least, the people are not indifferent.”

Ten Principles of Worship

Rebbe, - Rabbi Zusi once addressed his mentor Dov Ber, - I heard that there are some "Ten principles of worship." But I don't know anything more about them.

I can't teach you myself. But I know those who can.

And who is it?

The first three principles will be taught to you by a child, and the other seven by a thief.

By the look of Rabbi Zusya, it was evident that Dov Ber's words had utterly astonished him.

Look, - continued Dov Ber, - from a child you will learn three things. The first is to have fun for no reason. The second is not to sit idle, not to waste a minute. And the third is to loudly and persistently demand what you want.

Okay, teacher, what can I learn from a thief? Zushi asked.

Doing your job in secret is the time. If you didn’t finish your business right away, on one night, returning to it the next is two. To love and respect fellow craftsmen - three. Do not be afraid to risk your life to achieve your goal - four. Do not be afraid to exchange everything that you have for some trifling, but new acquisition - five. Not to be afraid of any obstacles - six. Always stay true to your craft and never allow the thought of changing it to some other - seven.

Dancing rabbi

The inhabitants of a Jewish town were impatiently waiting for the arrival of a rabbi. For them this was an event of great importance, and therefore they, in addition to the due preparations, spent a lot of time compiling a list of questions that they intended to ask him. And this list is impressive.

Finally the Rebbe arrived. He immediately felt that people expected a lot from him, it was obvious that everyone was eager to get answers to questions. But the rabbi did not say anything, but simply looked people in the eye and began to sing a song that was popular in those days. Soon someone began to sing along with him, and now all those gathered were singing. Then the rabbi began to dance, he swayed rhythmically from side to side, it was felt that the rabbi loves and knows how to dance. Those who came to the meeting followed his example. Soon the dance captured people so much that they forgot about everything in the world - about their problems, hardships, everyday worries, as well as questions prepared earlier. Not a trace remained of the former tension that prevailed at the very beginning of the meeting. All those present felt a deep calm settled in their hearts.

The dance lasted over an hour. Finally, the rabbi stopped and uttered what were the only words of the evening:

I hope I have answered all your questions.

Egyptian parables

Truth and Falsehood

There once lived two brothers. The eldest was called Pravda, and the youngest was Krivda.

Brother Pravda was beautiful with his whole body, and he had no equal in the whole country. Krivda envied him, and he decided to destroy him. Then he took a beautiful dagger in a beautiful scabbard, took with him ten loaves of bread, a staff, a pair of sandals, a wineskin and a sword, and came to the keeper of the utensils of Truth.

Take for yourself these ten loaves, a staff, a pair of sandals, a wineskin and a sword,” Krivda told him, “but keep my dagger until I return from the city.

A lot of time passed when the keeper of the utensils of Truth decided to clean the dagger that Krivda left him. He sat down with him on the bank of the pond and began to clean it. Suddenly the dagger slipped out of his hands and sank. No matter how much they searched for him, they could not find him.

Then Krivda heard that the keeper of the utensils of Truth had lost his dagger. He came to the keeper of the utensils and said to him:

Where is my dagger? Give it back to me!

I don’t have it, I lost it, - the keeper of the utensils answered him. “But here are all the daggers of Truth for you, and they are all yours. Take what you want.

Is there a second such dagger that I had? - then asked Krivda. “His blade is Mount El, the handle is the trunk of the Koptos tree, the scabbard is the tomb of the god, and the binding of the scabbard is all the herds of Kara pastures.

Then the keeper of the utensils said:

Can there be such a big dagger in the world as you say?

But Krivda seized him, dragged him to the court to the Ennead and said:

I entrusted my dagger to Pravda, but he lost it. And that dagger was extraordinary! His blade is Mount El, the hilt is the trunk of the Koptos tree, the scabbard is the tomb of the god, and the binding of the scabbard is all the flocks of Kara's pastures. He can't refund me!

And Krivda said to the Enneade:

Grab the Truth and blind him in both eyes. And let him be the gatekeeper of my house!

And Ennead did everything as Krivda said.

After that, many days passed, when one day Krivda raised his eyes, looked and saw the dignity of his elder brother. And then Krivda said to the two servants of Truth:

Seize your master and give him to the ferocious lion and his lionesses. Otherwise I will kill you!

The slaves seized their master and dragged him to the desert hills. But as they were climbing the slope, Pravda said to his slaves:

Don't give me to the lions! Take someone else instead of me. Or better, do this: let one of you go to Krivda and say that his order has been carried out, and the other go to the city and bring me some bread.

One of the slaves came to Krivda and said to him:

We left our master in the wilderness, and the lions tore him to pieces.

Then he left the house, although Krivda called him to give a good reward.

Many more days passed after that. Once, a noble lady went out of the house with her maids for a walk. And then the servants saw the Truth: he lay at the foot of the hill and was so beautiful that the servants returned to their mistress and said:

Come with us there and see for yourself. There, at the foot of the hill, lies a blind man. Let us bring him to us and make him the gatekeeper of our house!

Then the lady ordered the maids:

Bring him! I want to see him.

When the lady saw how beautiful Truth was in her body, she longed for him with all her heart. Truth spent the night with her and knew her as a man knows a woman. And that very night the lady conceived a child.

Many days passed after this, and the lady gave birth to a son. There was no equal to this child in the whole country, for he was a cubit long and his beauty was like a young god. He was sent to school, where he learned the difficult and honorable science of writing. Everything that young men should have been able to do, he did so skillfully that he surpassed even his older comrades who studied with him at school.

Then his comrades began to say to him:

Whose son are you? You don't have a father! they tormented and teased him. You really don't have a father!

Then the boy asked his mother:

Tell me the name of my father so that I can answer my comrades at school. They revile me and ask: “Who is your father?”

Do you see the blind man sitting at the gate? - answered his mother. - It's your father.

To this, her son said to her:

For what you did, you should have been thrown to a crocodile in front of everyone!

After that, the boy brought his father into the house and seated him in a chair. He brought a footstool and offered it to his father, put bread in front of him, fed him and gave him drink. And then the boy asked his father:

Tell me, father, who blinded you, to whom should I avenge you?

It was my younger brother who blinded me, answered Pravda.

And told him everything that had happened to him.

Then the boy got ready to go to avenge his father. He took a bull of the most beautiful suit, ten loaves of bread, a staff, a pair of sandals, a wineskin and a sword, and went to the shepherd of Krivda.

Take for yourself these ten loaves, a staff, a pair of sandals, a wineskin and a sword,” he said to the shepherd, “but watch over my bull until I return from the city.

A lot of time has passed since then. For many months the shepherd of Krivda grazed the bull, when one day Krivda went to the field to look at his bulls. And he saw a bull, which was the most beautiful suit. Then Krivda said to his shepherd:

Bring me that bull! I want to eat it.

This bull is not mine. I can’t give it away,” the shepherd answered him.

Then Krivda said to him:

Look, here are my bulls, and you have them all. You can give any of them to the owner of that bull!

And then the son of Pravda heard that Krivda took his bull. Then he came to the shepherd of Krivda and said to him:

Where is my bull? I don't see him.

Here are all the bulls of Krivda, and they are all yours, - answered the shepherd. - Take what you want.

Then the son of Truth said to him:

Is there a second such bull in the world as I had? When he stands on the Isle of Amon, his tail brush lies in the Papyrus Thickets; one horn rests on the Western Mountain, and the other horn on the Eastern Mountain, the Great River serves him as a bed: sixty calves are born from him daily.

Can there be such a big bull as you say? asked the shepherd.

But the boy grabbed him and dragged him to where Krivda was. And he brought Krivda to judgment before the Ennead.

The gods of the Ennead listened to him.

What you say is not true, they said. We have never seen such a big bull, this simply cannot be!

But how can there be such a big dagger as you said before? asked the son of Truth. - You said that his blade is Mount El, the handle is the trunk of the Koptos tree, the scabbard is the tomb of a god, and the binding of the scabbard is all the herds of the pastures of Kara! Judge between Truth and Falsehood. I am the son of Truth and I have come to avenge him.

Hearing these words, Krivda swore by the name of the pharaoh, may he be alive, healthy and powerful, and said:

I swear by the eternity of Amon and the life of the lord, what he says is a lie! Let them find Truth alive, and then let them blind me in both eyes, and let them make me the gatekeeper of his house!

Then the son of Truth also swore in the name of Pharaoh, may he be alive, healthy and powerful, and said:

I swear by the eternity of Amon and the life of the lord, everything I say is true. And if they find my father alive, then let Krivda be severely punished! Let them give him one hundred simple blows and inflict five lacerations on him. And then let them blind him in both eyes and make him a gatekeeper in the house of Truth. And he will serve him forever!

Thus the son of Pravda avenged his father, and thus the dispute between Pravda and Krivda was resolved.

Here the story ends happily, as recorded by the scribe of the temple of Amun, whose hands are clean.

kite and cat

Once upon a time there lived a kite born at the top of a mountain, and there lived a cat born at the foot of this mountain.

The kite did not dare to fly away from the nest for food for his chicks for a long time - he was afraid that the cat would get them and eat them. But the cat was also afraid to leave for food for her kittens, fearing that the kite would carry them away. So it was until one day the kite said to the cat:

Let's live like good neighbors from now on! Let's make an oath to the great god Ra and say: "If one of us goes for food for our children, the other will not attack them!"

And they swore and promised before the god Ra that they would not back down from their oath.

But once a kite took a piece of meat from a kitten and gave it to his kite. The cat saw this and decided to take the meat from the kite. And when he turned to her, the cat seized him and plunged her claws into him.

I swear by Ra, this is not your food! - the kite squeaked when he realized that he could not escape. Why did you sink your claws into me?

But the cat answered him:

Where did you get this meat from? After all, I brought it and brought it to my kitten, not to you!

I did not fly to your kittens! - answered the kite. - And if you begin to take revenge on me or my brothers and sisters, then Ra will see that you have violated the oath brought to him.

Then he wanted to take off, but the wings could not carry him back to the tree. As if dying, he fell to the ground and said to the cat:

You can kill me, but then your son and your son's son will die.

And the cat didn't touch him. But then a kite flew in and found its chick on the ground. Anger seized him and he said in his hearts:

I swear I will get my revenge! I will do this when the Retribution returns here from the distant lands of the land of Syria. Then the cat will go for food for her kittens, and I will attack them. And the kittens will become food for me and my children!

However, for a long time the kite did not have the right moment to attack the cat's house and destroy its entire family. He followed every step of his enemy and thought about his revenge day and night.

And then one day the cat left her kittens. The kite saw this, attacked them and carried them away. And when the cat came back, she didn't find a single kitten. Then she turned to the sky and called out to the great Ra:

Find out about my grief and judge us with a kite! We both swore a sacred oath, but he broke it. He killed all my children!

And Ra heard the cat and sent Heavenly power to punish the kite. The heavenly force set off and found Retribution, which was sitting just under the tree where the kite's nest was. And the heavenly power conveyed to Retribution the command of Ra to punish the kite for what he did with the kittens.

Once a kite saw a Syrian who was roasting mountain game on coals (he did not know that all this was specially arranged by Retribution to punish him). The kite grabbed a piece of meat and took it to its nest. But he did not notice that burning coals stuck to the meat.

And then the kite's nest blazed, all its children were roasted and fell to the ground at the foot of the tree.

Then the cat came to the tree where the kite's nest was, but did not touch the chicks.

By the name of Ra, you hunted my children for a long time, and now you attacked and killed them! she said to the kite. - And even now I don’t touch your chicks, even though they were fried in the fire!

Lion and mouse

There lived a mighty lion on the mountain. He was so powerful that all the animals of the mountains were afraid of his strength.

Once a lion met a panther. All her skin was tattered, and her fur hung in tatters. She was barely alive from many wounds.

What happened to you? the lion asked her. - Who tore your skin, who skinned your fur?

And the panther answered him:

It was made by a man.

And who is such a person?

There is no one smarter than a man! Never fall into his hands!

Hearing such words of the panther, the lion harbored a grudge against the man and went to look for him.

On the way he met a donkey and a horse. Their muzzles were entangled with a bridle, and there were a bit in their teeth.

Who tied you up like this? - asked the lion.

This is our master, man! - the donkey and the horse answered him in one voice.

Is the person stronger than you? - the lion was surprised.

He is our master. There is no one in the world smarter than a man. Never fall into his hands!

Then the lion became even more angry with the man and left the donkey and the horse.

He was on his way when he met a bull and a cow. Their horns were sawn off, their nostrils were pierced, and they had a yoke around their necks. The lion asked them who did it, and they answered him, as the donkey and the horse answered earlier, that their master, the man, did it.

Is the person even stronger than you? - exclaimed the lion.

And the bear replied:

Yes, stronger. Once I had a man in my service, he brought me food. But one day he said to me: “Your claws are too long, they prevent you from taking food. Your teeth are so weak that they do not allow you to eat what you want. Let me rip them out and I'll bring you twice as much food!" And I let him do it. And then he took my teeth and claws, threw sand in my eyes and ran away. And there was nothing I could do to keep him.

The lion became even more angry. He left the bear and continued to look for the man. But soon he saw another lion, whose paw was pinched by a mountain tree.

The lion who came asked him:

How did you get into such trouble? Who did this to you?

And another lion answered him:

It was made by a man. Beware of him and never trust him if you value your life. The man is cunning, very cunning! Never fall into his hands! I met a man and asked him: “What trade are you doing?” “My trade is to prevent old age,” he answered. - I can make you such a talisman that you will never die. Do you want me to cut down a tree trunk and let you touch this talisman? After that, you will live forever!” And then I followed him to this tree. He sawed it down, split the trunk with a wedge, and said to me: "Put your paw here!" I put my paw in the gap, and he knocked out the wedge, and the tree squeezed it. And the man, when he saw that I could not run after him, threw sand in my eyes and left.

Hearing this, the lion who had come got angry and said:

O man, someday you will fall into my clutches, and I will immediately repay you for all the insults you have caused to the beasts of the mountains!

Don't push me, my lord! You can eat me, but you still can't get enough of me. If you let me go, your hunger will not get stronger. But if you give me life, I will also give you life someday. Do no harm to me, and someday I will save you from trouble.

What can you do? - laughing, said the lion. - After all, no one on earth can cope with me and harm me!

But the mouse swore to him:

I swear that I will save you from death when your darkest day comes!

Of course, the lion did not take the mouse’s words seriously, but he thought: “If I eat this mouse, then I really won’t become full!” And he let her go.

It so happened that a hunter who was trapping animals dug a hole just in the path of the lion. He fell into a hole and fell into the hands of a hunter. The hunter entangled the lion with a net and tightly tied it with dry straps, and tied it with rawhide straps on top.

The bound lion lay in the mountains and grieved. But fate took pity on him and made sure that the oath of the mouse became true. The haughty words of the lion were forgotten, and fate brought a little mouse to him at night. Then the mouse said to the lion:

Do you recognize me? I am that little mouse that you gave life to. I've come to pay you back today. You fell into the hands of a man, but I will save you from death. You need to be grateful to those who have done you good.

Having said this, the mouse began to gnaw on the fetters of the lion. She gnawed through all the dry belts and all the rawhide with which he was bound, and freed him from the bonds. Then the mouse hid in the lion's mane, and together at the same hour they went to the mountains.

Think of the little mouse, the weakest of all the inhabitants of the mountains, and the lion, the strongest of all those who live in the mountains! Think of the miracle that happened at the behest of fate!

Kite Vigilant Eye and kite Sensitive Ear

On the mountain peaks once lived a kite, whose name was the Vigilant Eye. Once he met another kite, whose name was Sensitive Ear.

My eye is sharper and my eyesight is more perfect than yours, - the kite Vigilant Eye told him. - Fate has given me such a gift that no other bird has.

Then the kite Sensitive Ear asked him:

What is this gift?

And the kite Vigilant Eye answered him:

I see everything to the limits of darkness, I see through the sea to the primordial waters. The kite Sensitive Ear asked him:

Where did you get this gift?

This gift was given to me because I lived in the treasury, and the priest, the keeper of the treasures, fed me, - answered the kite Vigilant Eye. - He cooked food for me and said: “I cook wonderful food!” All my life I ate only this food, and besides it, I drank only sunlight.

And the kite Sensitive Ear kept these words in his heart, and then said:

That's right, your eye is sharper and your vision is more perfect than mine. But fate has given me a gift that no other bird has. I comprehended the secrets of heaven and even hear what is happening in heaven. I even hear what the sun god Ra, the king of all gods, is preparing.

Where did you get this gift? - asked the kite Vigilant Eye.

This gift was given to me because, - answered the kite Sensitive Ear, - that I never slept at noon, did not drink, like you, anything but sunlight, and when I went to rest at night, my throat remained dry.

And the kite Vigilant Eye kept these words in his heart.

But the kite Sensitive Ear laughed.

Why are you laughing? - the kite Vigilant Eye asked him.

Yes, now another kite told me something, whose name is the Sensitive Ear of Ra, soaring in the sky high above the earth, may it be blessed! Now he told me this, and it will happen that I will tell him something. And he told me this: the gadfly, the most importunate of all creatures,

the lizard swallowed, the lizard was swallowed by the monitor lizard, the monitor lizard was devoured by the snake. The falcon seized the snake and threw it into the sea.

Then the kite Sensitive Ear said to the kite Vigilant Eye:

You see through the sea, and you see everything that happens in the water. Tell me, what happened to the snake then?

Everything that you have just told is true, - answered the kite Vigilant Eye. - So it really was. Look, there is a snake thrown into the sea by a falcon! Here a pike grabbed her, and now the snake is in its mouth. Look, Sensitive Ear, the pike has eaten the snake. And now the catfish has swallowed the pike! Here he swims to the shore. Look, a lion came to the sea and pulled the catfish ashore. But the griffin saw them. He plunged his claws into them and carried them to the heavens, to the radiance of the solar disk. But he threw them to the top of the mountain and tore them to pieces. If you do not believe me, fly with me to the mountains in the middle of the desert, where you will see them all. The lion and the catfish, torn apart, lie before the griffin, and he devours them.

And so both kites flew to that mountain and saw that what the kite Vigilant Eye had said was true. Then said the kite Keen Eye to the kite Sensitive Ear:

Everything that happens on earth is predetermined from above. God in heaven does only good, but on earth it turns into evil.

Then the kite Vigilant Eye asked:

But what will happen to the griffin, which even defeated the lion? What will become of him?

Don't you know that the griffin is the most powerful of all beasts? - the kite Sensitive Ear answered him. He is the master of everything on earth. He is the lord over whom no one rules. He has the beak of a falcon, the eyes of a man, the body of a lion, ears like the fins of a sea fish, and his tail is a snake. Five beings merged into one in it! He, like death, rules over everything on earth. He commands all things, he alone punishes all!

Thus answered the kite Sensitive Ear to the kite Vigilant Eye.

Truly, whoever kills will someday also be killed! Whoever orders to kill will also be killed by order. These words must reach your heart. Remember: nothing can be hidden from Ra, god of the sun, king of all gods. He rewards according to merit and deeds to all who live on earth, from the gadfly, the most insignificant of all earthly creatures, to the griffin, the most powerful of all creatures. For everything good and everything bad is done on this earth by the will of the god Ra.

Sayings of Ipuser

Troubles and rebellions swept the country. When everything hesitated, the pharaoh called the sage Ipuser to him and commanded him:

Tell me what is and what will be! Strange and terrible things are happening around. Tell everything and hide nothing!

And the sage Ipuser spoke. He told about everything without concealment.

Those who are assigned to guard the gates themselves shout: "Let's go rob!" Bakers don't bake anything. Laundresses don't return clothes. Bird-catchers start fights. The inhabitants of the Delta walk with shields, the brewers with weapons. No one rejoices in life, because everyone sees an enemy even in his son. Everywhere people say to each other: "Come with a sword!" What is happening is what was predicted in the time of the god Horus, in the time of the Ennead. Only valiant people mourn what is happening in the country. Foreigners everywhere have become Egyptians. What is happening is what was predicted by the ancestors.

Truly, thieves have seized the best lands, and therefore the plowmen go out into the field with shields.

Verily, the humble people say: “Thieves, fierce in appearance, now rule.”

Truly, the faces of everyone now are fierce. Villains are everywhere, and nowhere are the people of yesterday.

Truly, robbers are prowling everywhere and everywhere. Anyone who wants to have a servant simply kidnaps slaves.

Truly, the Nile is flooding, as before, but no one thinks to plow the flood fields. “What is happening in the country? We do not understand!" - everyone says.

Indeed, women have become barren, they no longer conceive. Khnum does not create more people because of unrest in the country.

Indeed, the poor have become masters of the jewels. Who previously could not even buy sandals, now owns all the wealth.

Verily, the new master saddens the hearts of the slaves. And if the servants rejoice, then the master is sad.

Verily, the hearts of men have become cruel. Death and pestilence throughout the country. Blood is everywhere. The shrouds of the dead cry in vain for burial.

Indeed, the bodies of many are now being thrown into the river. For them, the Nile became a tomb, and the river stream a place of embalming.

Verily, those who were noble are now mourning, and the poor are rejoicing. In every village they say: "Let's exterminate all the rich!"

Truly, people walk around as black as ibises. Mud all over the country. Now you will not see a person in bright, clean clothes.

Truly, the country turned over like a potter's wheel. The robber became a rich man, the rich man became a robber.

Indeed, the waters of the Nile are dyed with blood, but these waters still drink. The taste of blood repels people, they crave pure water, but in vain.

Indeed, all the columns, gates and chambers of the pharaoh's palace, may he be alive, healthy and mighty, were burned, and only the walls remained from the palace.

Verily, the whole ship of the South was in mutiny. The cities were plundered, and Upper Egypt turned into a desert.

Truly, the crocodiles are already fed up with their prey, because people themselves rush into the river. The wise say to them: "Look, do not go there, there is death!" But they rush into the water like fish, because in fear they do not distinguish where the river is, where the land is.

Indeed, the Egyptians became few, but the murderers were many. And when they hear about it, the timid run away without looking back.

Verily, the nobleman is equal to the common man, the son of the sovereign is equal to the son of the slave.

Verily, all Egypt was desolate. The nomes are devastated, strangers have come into the country. Indeed, there are no Egyptians left anywhere.

Verily, gold and lapis lazuli, silver, turquoise and carnelian now shine on the necks of slaves. And noble women and housewives think only of one thing: “What will we have for dinner?”

Truly, noble women are unfortunate! Their bodies suffer from rags, and their hearts grieve when they have to bow to those who before bowed to them.

Verily, their ebony chests are broken, and the precious sesedj tree is cut down for firewood.

Indeed, the builders of the pyramids have become plowmen. Those who sailed on the ships of the pharaoh are now harnessed to the plow. Ships do not sail today north to Byblos. Where can we get cedar for sarcophagi now? No more cedars are brought to us, for we have no gold. The palace of the pharaoh is empty, may he be alive, healthy and mighty! And how many sacks of fragrant herbs, how many sacrificial birds were previously brought here by the inhabitants of the oases!

Verily, the rebellious Tanis and Elephantine and the lower Egyptian nomes pay no more taxes. There is not enough grain, coal, not enough fruits of the Mau trees, chickpeas and shetsu, not enough handicrafts for the palace. What is the purpose of the treasury if taxes do not come into it? After all, the heart of the ruler truly rejoices only when offerings flock to him. And now any foreign country says: “These are all our possessions! This is all our good!”

Truly, no more laughter is heard, no one laughs anymore. All over the country heard only weeping and wailing.

Verily, the one who had nothing before owns everything. The Egyptians are now like the mob driven out onto the road.

Indeed, all have become hairless, and now you cannot distinguish the son of a noble man from one who does not know his father at all.

Verily, all suffer because of the noise. Noise does not stop in these years of noise. And there is no end to this noise.

Truly, everyone from young to old says: “I want to die!” Even children say: “Why did my father give me life ?!”

Verily, the children of noble people are smashed against the walls.

Truly, the mummies have been thrown out of their tombs. All the secrets of embalmers became known to everyone.

Verily, those who lived yesterday are dead today. The earth is left to itself, like flax uprooted.

Indeed, the entire Nile Delta was left unprotected. The fortifications that were previously the backbone of Lower Egypt have now become a tortuous road. What to do now? This has never happened before.

From everywhere one hears: "Stay away from the secret sanctuaries, for they are captured by the uninitiated, who replaced the initiated." For now the foreigners have become skilled in the works of the Egyptians.

Truly, wealthy people are now assigned to hand mills. Those who used to wear clothes of the finest fabric are now beaten with sticks. Slaves who did not dare to appear during the day take to the streets. Noble women now sleep in brothels. I say, "Seeing them there is worse than seeing a myrrh barge loaded with vials of filth!" As for the servants, let the most terrible diseases afflict them! For they torment noble women, as if they were simple servants.

Now, if the end of the human race would come and there would be no more conceptions or births! Then the cries in the country would have ceased and there would have been no rebels.

But now, truly, everyone eats only grass and drinks it with water. Trees do not bear fruit, and birds have nothing to eat. People take swill from pigs!

Now you will not see beautiful faces - they are all disfigured by hunger.

Indeed, grain is wasted on every road, people have no clothes, no oil, no incense. Everyone says: “There is nothing left! The pantries are empty, and their guards lie dead on the ground. My heart grieves, there is no consolation for me Oh, if I could raise my voice in this hour of despair, if I could find salvation from the troubles that have struck the country!

Truly, the records of the Court of Justice have been plundered. Everything in this vault of secrets has been stolen.

Truly, magic spells have now become known to all. Shem and Sehen spells have now become dangerous, because everyone knows them.

Truly, the chambers have been opened and the tax lists have been stolen. Because of this, the slaves became the masters of the slaves.

Verily, the scribes are killed and their papers stolen. Bitter me! Sorrow filled to the brim these days!

Verily, all the records of the scribes counting the harvest have been destroyed, and the granaries have been opened to all.

Verily, the scrolls of the laws of the court of justice are thrown into the streets; trample them all under foot, break and tear them.

Verily, the poor have risen to heaven and become like the Ennead, for all the secrets of the Judgment Seat of the Thirty have become known to them.

Truly, the Great Judicial Chamber has turned into a passage courtyard. The poor, as they want, walk around it.

Verily, the children of those who were noble are thrown into the street.

The sage will confirm that all this is true, but the fool will deny everything, because he does not know what is happening, and everything that is happening seems beautiful to him.

This is what Ipuser said to Pharaoh, the lord of the earth.

Sufi parables

hellfire

Once Harun al-Rashid met a holy fool.

Where are you going from now? asked the caliph.

Am I? From hell itself.

And what brought you there?

I was looking for a fire to light my pipe, and I decided to ask the people there if they would share it with me.

And how did they give you fire?

No, the ruler there told me they didn't have it. "How so?" I asked. And he answered me: “We don’t have fire here, everyone comes here with his own.”

Greed, obsequiousness and impossibility

The Sufi, instructing his disciple, said to him:

No one will understand the essence of man until he realizes the connection between greed, obsequiousness and impossibility.

Teacher, - answered the student, - this is such a puzzle that I cannot comprehend.

Solving puzzles does not find understanding. Better seek it through the attainment of experience.

And in order for the student to better understand his words, the Sufi took him to the market, to the place where robes were sold. Approaching one of the shops, the Sufi asked the owner:

Dear, show me the best dressing gown, and, moreover, the most expensive one.

His wish was fulfilled, a luxurious robe was brought, and the price was high.

This is exactly what I want, - said the Sufi, - but it would be even better if the collar of the robe were embroidered with sequins and lined with fur.

Oh, that's not a problem, - the shopkeeper answered, - just such a robe is waiting for you in my workshop, behind the shop.

He hurried away and returned a few minutes later. It was evident that he was wearing the same robe, to which sequins and fur had been hastily sewn on.

And how much do you want for this robe? asked the Sufi.

The shopkeeper quoted a price ten times what he had asked for a dressing gown without fur and sequins.

Wonderful! exclaimed the Sufi. - Then I'll take both.

Big world

One man was tired of life in the village to death, and he, carried away by the stories of wanderers about the Big World, more and more wanted to enter this world and free himself from all restrictions.

Finally, he decided that the time had come, and early in the morning he left the village. Soon he met a fellow traveler, a famous sage and magician, who, perhaps, like no one was aware of everything that concerned the Big World. They continued on their way together.

Some time later, they found a certain ball on the side of the road.

Look, what is it? - asked the sage. - What can be done about it?

The traveler peered into the ball and saw that it was a swarm of bees attached to an old stump.

We'll take it with us," he said, "maybe we can sell it for a profit."

He took off his cloak, made something like a bag out of it, gathered the bees into it and put it on his back. But some bees managed to get out, and they, buzzing angrily, attacked the traveler and bit him painfully. The man jumped in pain, dropped the bag, and then grabbed it and began to beat it against a stone until he knocked out all the bees from it.

Calm down, calm down! - the sage tried to stop him. Let's sit down and figure out what happened.

What was I supposed to do? The bees have bitten me.

But is it right to punish everyone for what only a few of them have done?

I think that anyone in my place would not have thought, but acted in exactly the same way.

And let's listen to what the bees say about this, - the sage suggested and made a magic sign that allowed them to listen to the conversation of three bees sitting on a tree not far from them.

O Wise Bee of the Epoch, one of the bees addressed the other. "Maybe you can explain to us what happened?"

Of course. A creature from the Big World tried to capture us. Some of us bit him, which was quite normal reaction, and the creature in anger began to beat us against a stone.

Do these creatures always behave like this?

They act in the same way under the same circumstances. But, I tell you, this would not have happened if some of us did not strive at all costs to get into Big world not knowing what awaits us in it.

Then one of the bees said:

If so, if this Big World is like that, then I leave all searches for this world and leave your School, even though you are the Wisest Bee of the Epoch…

So are you, - said the sage to his fellow traveler. - You want to get into the Big World, but, having taken the first steps, you do things that you regret.

Slap sound

A dervish sat on the bank of the river, he contemplated the slowly flowing water and indulged in his thoughts. Suddenly, someone hit him hard on the neck. It was a passer-by who, seeing the dervish's bare neck, could not resist and slapped it loudly. The dervish, of course, jumped up to answer the offender.

Wait, - said the mischievous one, - you, of course, have the right to hit me. But first, tell me what caused the slap sound: my hand or your neck?

But the dervish was by no means going to indulge in such reflections.

I'm not talking right now, I'm just in pain. It’s up to you to build all sorts of theories, because you don’t feel what I had to feel. Now I'll hit you, and you can answer your own question.

Attention and inattention

One day, the following conversation took place between two students of a Sufi school:

I will probably die soon if our mentor continues to ignore me. After all, he has been doing this for ten years! This makes me feel ignorant. I came here to study, but I am not allowed to do so.

Another student disagreed with him:

And I'd rather die, he said, if our teacher stops making fun of me. I also feel ignorant, but it moves me on the path to the Truth.

After that, a dispute broke out between the students, which continued until the very evening, until the teacher came. He calmed the disciples and asked them to state the essence of the dispute. At that moment, one of the disciples sat down between the debaters and raised his hand.

Speak, said the Master.

I would like to ask you to continue ignoring the one on my left until he dies. And I also ask you, Master, to start ignoring the one on my right, and for the same purpose. And then everyone else will be able to perceive your desires, and we will be able to learn something and will be spared from hysterical newcomers.

sparrow and chicken

One day a sparrow and a chicken got into a conversation. The sparrow sat on a stone fence, and the hen settled down below.

Listen, chicken, - the sparrow began to talk, - aren't you tired of walking and walking on the ground and pecking grains? After all, you even forgot how to fly.

It's not true, I didn't get it! - the chicken was offended, waved her wings with all her might and flew up onto the fence.

Satisfied with herself, she in turn asked the sparrow:

But now you tell me: are you not tired of flying and looking for food? I now live in a chicken coop, the hostess pours grain into the feeder every day - peck and peck for yourself, and no worries.

At that moment, a strong wind blew up. The chicken tried to hold on, but no matter how hard she tried, she still flew down. The sparrow calmly took off, flew around and, as soon as the wind subsided, sat back on the fence.

You see, - said the sparrow, - you, so big, rely only on the feeder. Now you wanted to lean on a stone wall, but I lean only on my wings and support myself in life.

Fake Sufi

A man walked around the city, with an uncombed disheveled beard, unwashed hair, in a raincoat with a hood and a rosary around his neck. To everyone he met, this man proudly declared that "he is a Sufi and has learned Sufi science."

Why are you doing like that? a real Sufi asked the man.

The "Sufi" replied that he was following the instructions written in the book for all who embark on the path of the Sufi.

But this book was written a hundred years ago and is long out of date! exclaimed a real Sufi when he saw the book.

So what, - answered the "Sufi", - maybe so. But I only found it last month!

Time, place, people and method

Once the ruler invited a Sufi dervish to the palace.

Since ancient times, the path of the dervish, handed down from generation to generation by successive masters, has been such a powerful and eternal source of light that even my reign is no more than a faint reflection of it.

It is so, - answered the dervish.

If so, since I know this and want with all my might to learn those truths that you know, then teach me.

The dervish fell into deep thought for a while, and then said:

However, wisdom cannot be conveyed in words. So let's wait for a favorable moment for her knowledge.

Every morning, the dervish, as if in service, appeared at the court of the ruler, but did not give lessons to the ruler. Each time, seeing at the entrance to the palace the figure of a dervish in a patched robe, the king thought: “This man does not want to return to our conversation about learning and learning the truth, although he comes to me every day, takes part in many affairs of my court, talks, laughing, eating and drinking. What is he waiting for, maybe some kind of sign?

But one day, one of the courtiers, during a conversation in the throne room, said:

Daoud, the singer of singers, whose talent is unparalleled in this land, has stopped in our city.

The king was eager to hear him sing, but when his messenger came to Daud, he replied:

If your ruler wishes me to come to him, I will come. But if he wants to hear me sing, he must, like everyone else, wait until inspiration descends on me. I was able to surpass other singers precisely because I know when I should sing and when I should not.

When Daud's words were relayed to the king, he exclaimed:

Is there really no way to get him to sing for me?!

The courtiers were silent, they really did not know the means that would make the great singer sing when he does not want to. But then a dervish approached the king and said:

Oh my lord, we will go to Daud, just change into the clothes of a simple city dweller.

Soon the king, who looked like an ordinary resident of the city, and the dervish were at the house where the "great nightingale Daud" was staying. They knocked, and an irritated voice of the singer came from behind the door:

Go your own way. I don't sing today.

Then the dervish sat down on the step and sang one of Daoud's favorite songs. His voice was so pure and melodious that the ruler was fascinated by his singing. But in the middle of the song, the dervish got out of tune, just a little bit. The king did not even notice this, but the false note did not escape the sensitive ear of Daud, who also heard this singing. He immediately opened the door, corrected the dervish and began to sing. When Daud finished the song, the king presented him with a gift, and the dervish was offered the position of an adviser.

My lord, the dervish replied, you could hear this amazing song only if you are present, the singer is present, and there is also a person who can create such conditions under which the singer will sing in any case. This is the coincidence of time, place, people and method. As for your proposal, it is very flattering. But I have chosen the path of a dervish and must follow it to the end.

Rider and snake

People who know the truth say that sometimes the cruelty of a wise man is much better and more useful than the kindness of a fool. As an example, they give this parable.

Once a rider riding along the road saw a small poisonous snake crawl into the mouth of a man sleeping under a roadside tree. The sleeper did not notice this, and the rider realized that if he hesitated, the poison would soon kill the unfortunate. He jumped up to the man and began mercilessly whipping him with a whip. He jumped up from fear and pain, bulging his eyes at the stranger. The rider, not letting him come to his senses, drove the man to an apple tree, under which many rotten apples were lying, and forced them to eat. Then he drove him to the river with a whip and forced him to drink water in large sips.

Why are you hitting me, why are you torturing me?! - the man groaned under the blows of the whip. - Let me go, because I did nothing to you.

But the rider was relentless. For several hours he tortured the man, forced him to eat rotten apples and drink river water. Until he finally fell to the ground. It began to tear, and along with the rot and water, a snake came out. Only then did the man realize that the horseman, mocking him, had saved his life. He began to ask for forgiveness from his savior for all the swear words he had uttered and said:

If you had explained to me at once what had happened, I would have understood everything and accepted your treatment without complaint.

I'm afraid that everything would be wrong, - the rider replied, - if I had told you right away that you had swallowed a snake, then you probably would not have believed me. And if you believed, then you would be fettered by fear and you would simply fall asleep, but this time forever. So it was necessary to act in this way: cruelly, but reasonably.

Having said this, the mysterious horseman jumped on his horse and galloped away.

Like - don't like

One famous Sufi, who wrote many books and instructions, was also a simple peasant who bred all kinds of living creatures. Once a man came to him, who considered himself a seeker of Truth, and said:

I have read all your books, teacher, and I must tell you that I agree with some of them and disagree with others. In some of them, I understand some parts and can not understand others at all. Some of what you wrote I like, some I don't.

When the man finished his speech, the Sufi sage took him to the barnyard, where there were many animals and food for them, and said:

Look, here are apples and carrots. Some animals love apples, and some love carrots. So are the animals that live here. Someone loves chicken, and someone only serve goat meat. "Like" or "dislike" in this case is not a common denominator. All this is food.

The Fool and the Camel

Once a fool and a camel met.

Look at that hunchbacked freak! shouted the fool, pointing his finger at the camel.

You allow yourself to judge and thereby create an opinion, - the camel answered. - But do you know that in this way you question the meaning of God's creation? My hump is not a flaw, not a deformity, it was created for a very specific purpose. As the string must always be straight, so the bow must always be curved. You are just a fool and understand no more than a stubborn donkey!

Horoscope

When the time came for the coronation of a prince who had inherited the throne, court astrologers stepped forward.

Lord, - said the most important of them, - the date of your coronation can be set only after the horoscope of this event is drawn up, otherwise your entire reign will be marked by troubles and troubles.

The ruler agreed, but then a famous Sufi appeared who said:

My prince, if you need to make a coronation horoscope, then you need to make a horoscope of the moment when this horoscope is made. Otherwise, astrologers can do their work at a moment that is completely inappropriate for this.

Is it so? the prince asked the astrologers.

Yes, - they answered, - and therefore, we need to make such a horoscope.

But, dear ones, - the Sufi intervened again, - then we need to draw up the horoscope of the moment of drawing up the horoscope, which determines the right time for drawing up the coronation horoscope. And how can we do it?

No one has been able to answer this question. As a result, the coronation rules were changed and the prince ascended the throne without a horoscope.

How to sit properly

One day, a certain ruler came to the famous Sufi master, the wise Bahauddin Naqshbandi, to observe the meeting of his students. After the meeting ended, the ruler said:

O Teacher of Eternity, I saw that your disciples were sitting in semicircular rows. My courtiers sit in the same way during the state council. Maybe there is some sign in this coincidence?

Lord, - said Bahauddin, - and in what order are your courtiers sitting?

The first circle is a place for the most worthy, those for whom I feel a special affection. Next sit important nobles, judges, military leaders of my state, ambassadors of other countries. The third circle is a place for those who do not have a position, those whose opinion I am not interested in.

You rightly noticed, ruler, - answered Bahauddin, - that our people during the meeting are divided according to different criteria. In the front row sit those who are hard of hearing, practically deaf, so that only in this way can they comprehend the teaching. middle group consists of the ignorant, so that they can focus on my words. And farthest away are the Enlightened Ones. For them, closeness of this kind does not matter.

Trial

Once a Sufi teacher said to his students:

I am poor and weak, my time in this world is coming to an end. I am teaching you young people, and it is your duty to find money that will ensure your teacher a dignified old age.

What should we do, teacher, tell me? the students asked. “The inhabitants of this city are very stingy, and even if we all go together to collect alms, we will not bring home a few coins.

My children, - answered the teacher, - but there is a wonderful way to get money, and without much trouble. You just need to take them from the one who has them.

We deserve money more than anyone, so is it a sin? But alas, I am already too weak to become a thief or a robber ...

Teacher, teacher, - interrupted his students. We are ready, we are young, we can do it! For you and your well-being, we are ready to do anything. Tell us what to do and we will obey!

There are many of you, and you are strong, it will be very easy for you to take away the wallet from some rich man. Do this: late in the evening, find some secluded place where no one will see you, then grab a richly dressed passerby and take his money. Just don't hurt him physically.

Now is just the right time! - the students murmured. "Let's quickly get together and go look for a secluded place."

They rushed about the rooms, and only one of them stood still and was silent, lowering his eyes. The teacher approached him.

Look, - he said, - how the eyes of other students lit up, how much they want to help me. And what are you standing, do you not care about my suffering?

Forgive me, teacher! - answered the young man. - But I can't go for what you're suggesting, that's why I'm silent.

Why?

But, teacher, there is no place in this world where no one sees. After all, even when I'm alone, I see for myself. No, teacher, I'd rather go around the world with a bag to beg than see myself stealing.

When the teacher heard these words, his face lit up. He hugged the student and exclaimed:

I am happy that at least one of my students understood what I taught you for many years!

Then the rest of the students realized that it was a test. But it was not in vain, from the day when an unworthy thought occurred to one of them, he remembered the words of his comrade: "I see it myself." And thus they all reached perfection.

How did the legend come about?

In ancient times there was a city near the river. There were only two streets in it, but they were very large, so this city was considered large. And then one day the dervish crossed from one street to another, and the inhabitants of this second street saw that his eyes were full of tears.

I tell you, - said one person, - there was a misfortune in the next street, someone died!

In fact, the tears in the dervish's eyes were from the fact that he had recently peeled onions. But nobody was interested. The women and children who were nearby, hearing the words “someone died”, immediately began to wail. The cries were heard by people from the neighboring street, the one where the misfortune happened, and soon a commotion began there too - everyone was sure that some kind of trouble had happened to the neighbors.

Only one wise man went from street to street and tried to find out what really happened, but no one listened to him, everyone shouted: “Misfortune, we know that our neighbors had a great misfortune!”

Panic spread with incredible speed. Soon, no one doubted that the neighbors had a problem, and then the inhabitants of both streets decided that it would be better to immediately leave the city in order to save their lives and the lives of their relatives. The inhabitants of the two streets left their homes and headed in opposite directions.

The flourishing city was depopulated, only centuries later two small villages appeared in its place. From generation to generation, people in these villages pass on the legend that once there was a big city in these places and that an unknown disaster struck it, forcing all the inhabitants to leave it overnight ...

How to find the right doctor and the cause of the disease

Once the son of the Emir of Bukhara fell seriously ill. Father called to him all the famous doctors, but they only shrugged:

Your son, O great emir, is melting before our eyes, but we do not know the cause of the disease.

They tried to talk to the patient, but he was stubbornly silent, did not eat, did not drink, only lay on the bed.

Finally, the famous Ibn Sina arrived at the Emir's court. It did not take him long to understand what had happened to the young man - he was very much in love.

The Emir and the courtiers, having learned about this, became worried. Everyone understood that only his beloved could cure the young man, but how to find out her name?

The emir begged Ibn Sina to come up with some way, and he, without hesitation, ordered to find a man who knew everything to one street of Bukhara.

When this man was brought to the palace, Ibn Sina entered with him into the chambers of the patient and ordered to list all the names of the streets. The great doctor himself at that time kept his finger on the pulse of the young man. Finally, the name of the street on which the girl lived, who won the heart of the emir's son, sounded. At that moment, the young man's heart began to beat violently.

After that, a man was brought to the palace who knew the names of all the inhabitants of that street. And again, Ibn Sina was helped by the young man's heart, which beat faster when the girl's name sounded. After that, finding a girl was not difficult. She came to the palace, began to care for the sick, and he recovered in a few days.

Dervish and scientist

One well-known scholar from Basra once came to the modest abode of an old dervish. The dervish was sick and lay in bed. The scientist sat down to him and started a conversation about how terrible and vicious this world is, in which there has long been no place for piety and humility.

The dervish did not interrupt the long speech of the scientist with a single word, but when he finished, he said:

In fact, you love this world too much, although you say otherwise. If you were indifferent to him, you would not remember him so often. The buyer in the market behaves in the same way. He sees a product that he likes, he really wants to buy it, but at first he scolds the chosen item and only then buys it. If you completed all your affairs in this world, you would not speak of it either well or badly.

Namus mosquito and elephant

A long time ago there lived a mosquito, whose name was Namus. Among the mosquito tribe, he was considered a smart and subtle mosquito, and therefore they called him Namus the Insightful. One day, guided, of course, by weighty and plausible reasons, Namus decided to change his place of residence.

He decided to build his new home in the ear of an elephant. Since Namus was a courteous and well-mannered mosquito, when entering a new house, he observed all conventions and ceremonies befitting in such a case. About his decision, he squeaked to the owner of the ear, the elephant:

Dear elephant, I, the one whom my fellow tribesmen call Namus the Insightful for his intelligence and prudence, announce to you my decision to settle in your ear.

Since the elephant did not answer, Namus decided that silence meant agreement. In fairness, it must be said that the elephant simply did not hear the squeak of a mosquito, and its introduction went unnoticed by the giant.

Living in the ear, Namus has given birth to many new generations of mosquitoes. The ear was not just his home, it was his destiny, the place where the mosquito conceived his great deeds, and it is not surprising that his very being was inextricably linked with this place, as was the history of the mosquito tribe. The ear was so cozy, so spacious, so warm...

But now the time has come, and Namus the Insightful, prompted, as always, by some weighty and urgent reasons, decided to think about changing his home. Of course, he, like a courteous mosquito, decided that this time, in accordance with the established and time-honored tradition, he should notify the elephant. He spent the whole day rehearsing his farewell speech, in which he explained to the elephant the reasons for his decision and thanked him for his cooperation. And now it's time to say goodbye. Namus the Perceptive squeaked his monologue, but received no answer. He called a few more times, but the elephant remained silent. Finally, taking in a full chest of air, Namus shouted his eloquent words in the very ear, the very one in which he once lived:

O elephant, know that I, Namus the Insightful, intend to change my place of residence and leave the residence that I have established in your ear. What do you say about it, what is your opinion, do you regret it?

The elephant finally heard the squeak of Namus and trumpeted in response:

Go to yourselves in peace. Your departure is as important to me as your arrival.

crutches

In one country, a nobleman injured his leg and was forced to buy crutches. They helped him a lot when walking, and soon he got so used to them that when his leg healed, he still continued to use them. The nobleman gradually accustomed all members of his family to them, and then his courtiers. Over time, all the inhabitants of the country sought to acquire crutches for themselves. Workshops for the production of crutches worked throughout the country. Rich people ordered ivory crutches for themselves, covered them with gold and precious stones. For teaching walking on crutches, special schools were opened, and at universities, wise scientists investigated the highest aspects of this science. Only a very few continued to do without crutches. Such behavior seemed to the majority, those who were used to walking on crutches, ridiculous and unreasonable. In vain did the loners try to prove that crutches should be used only when necessary. "See, we can walk without crutches." To which the opponents replied: “It is not so. It's all just a figment of your imagination."

Deprivation and wealth

Once a monkey said to a man:

Look how destitute I am, can't you see it? I don't have a roof over my head, or good food, or clothes, like you. No furniture, no decorations, no land - nothing. You, on the contrary, have all this, and even more!

The man was ashamed of such words and gave the monkey everything he had. He himself became a beggar.

It is time for the monkey to officially take possession of the human property.

So what are you going to do with all this now? the man asked.

Here's another, I'll talk to a penniless fool like you!

Row with one oar

Once, when the Sufi master Hasan and his disciple were sailing in a boat, a young man asked him:

Teacher, I understand that there is joy, because God is our Father, and it is natural that He gives joy and pleasure to His children. But why then do sorrow and unhappiness exist?

Instead of answering, Master Hasan began to row with one oar, which caused the boat to spin in place.

Master, what are you doing, if you row like this, then we will never reach the other shore! Do you have a broken second oar or a hand hurt? Let me bury!

And you are much smarter than I thought, - Hassan answered.

Master in the palace

A very rich man invited a Sufi master to his palace. This palace was incredibly luxurious, from floor to roof it was filled with various treasures: furniture, carpets, paintings, luxurious dishes and the like. The owner took the sage from room to room, for several hours he boasted of his treasures. The rich man was pleased and satisfied with himself. Finally, showing the Sufi all his huge palace, he, looking into the eyes of the master, asked:

Well, dear, what is your impression, are you satisfied with what you see?

The Master smiled and said:

I am impressed and satisfied that the world is so strong that it bears the weight of such a huge palace, and you along with it!

Mastery

There once lived a sage whose wisdom was so great that people came to him for advice from the farthest lands. He listened to everyone and then told them stories. These stories were so wise and instructive that people were enlightened and they successfully solved all their problems. He had many students, they all tried to comprehend his art, but they did not succeed.

Finally, one of them once again asked the master:

Teacher, tell me, how do you manage to find exactly the story that is exactly right for everyone who turns to you for help?

Well, - answered the master, - if you want to know it so much, I will tell you the story.

Once upon a time, a young ruler ruled one large and strong state. He was a good ruler, did a lot for his state, and in free time Most of all he liked archery. He was the first here too - in his entire kingdom there was no shooter equal to him. And besides this, the ruler loved to travel, and more often he dressed in the clothes of a simple wanderer so that no one could recognize him.

Once, during his travels, he wandered into a caravanserai. The time was already very late, and therefore there were no empty seats in the house. The owner offered the traveler to spend the night in the hay in the stable. The ruler agreed and slept soundly all night.

In the morning, waking up and going out into the street, the ruler saw that all the walls were studded with arrows. Moreover, each arrow was exactly in the center of the target - there was not a single miss! The unknown shooter was at least not inferior in skill to the ruler himself. Naturally, he immediately wanted to know who this person was, and asked the owner of the caravanserai about the master archer.

Master? - the owner was surprised. - Yes, this is a fifteen-year-old boy, the son of my groom.

Now it was the turn of the young ruler to be surprised. How can it be that a fifteen-year-old boy shoots no worse than he, the best shooter in the country? He found the boy and, addressing him with great respect, asked him to show his skill. He took the bow, pulled the string and, almost without aiming, fired an arrow at the wall. And then he took the chalk and outlined a target around the arrow stuck in the wall. The arrow, of course, was exactly in the center.

Master and tea cup

One very famous Sufi master was traveling with his students. The teacher, not wanting to attract undue attention to himself, strictly ordered his students not to tell anyone who he was, and not to show him signs of attention and reverence. In one village they stopped in a caravanserai for the night. In the morning the owner began to serve them tea and suddenly knelt down and fell at the feet of the master.

Seeing this, the students were very surprised and worried: who discovered the secret of the master, how was the owner of the caravanserai able to find out which of them was the master? The teacher, seeing the silent question in the eyes of his students, laughed and said:

Do not be surprised, it is better to ask this person how he recognized me.

How did you recognize our master? - the students asked the owner.

But I couldn't help but recognize him. After all, I have been making tea for my guests for many years, during this time I have seen thousands of people. But I have never met a person who would look with such love at an ordinary tea cup.

How many seekers of Truth are there in the world?

One person who in this world saw only himself and valued only his opinion, but at the same time, as he claimed, aspired to higher consciousness, came to a Sufi school and stopped at the gate to talk with the watchman.

I think, - he said, - few of us know how many genuine seekers of Truth actually exist in the world ...

I have been standing at this gate for fifty years and I can tell you something about this,” said the watchman.

Yes?! And how many are there?

Actually one less than you think.

heavenly fruit

One woman, pious and honest, heard about the heavenly fruit and desired it. She asked the dervish, whose name was Sabur:

Advise, wise man, how can I find this fruit in order to achieve higher knowledge?

best advice will be like this: learn from me, - said the dervish. - If not, then you will have to wander the world for a long time, at times without any rest, and look for another sage.

The woman left Sabur and went to travel the world. She found another wise man, whose name was Arif the wise, and then she met Hakim the wise man, then Majud the madman, then Alim the scholar and many, many others...

For thirty years, the woman was looking for a teacher who would tell her about where the heavenly fruit is stored, until she finally found a garden where the Tree of Heaven stood and a bright Heavenly Fruit hung on its branch. And near the Tree stood the dervish Sabur.

Why didn't you tell me when we first met that it was you

Guardian of the Heavenly Fruit? she asked. “After all, I spent thirty years searching in vain.

But you still wouldn't believe me. And besides, the Tree only bears fruit once every thirty years and thirty days.

There is nothing, there is no sadness

Once a Sufi was asked:

Dear, why is there never a trace of sadness on your face?

Because I don’t have something worth grieving about the loss of, ”the Sufi answered.

Sufi accuser

There lived a young man in the world, he was smart enough and at the same time he always spoke badly about the Sufis, blaming them on every occasion for all the sins. Once a Sufi master came to him, took a ring with a stone from his finger and said:

Young man, you speak ill of the Sufis, and that is your right. But here's a ring for you, go to the market and try to sell it for one gold coin.

The young man did just that. He walked around the bazaar all day and tried to find a buyer who would give him one gold coin for a ring. But he was offered for decoration at best a few coppers. Hearing the price that he called, people either laughed at him, believing that the young man was simply not himself, or immediately drove him away.

The young man returned to the master and returned the ring to him:

You slipped me a worthless ring! he said indignantly. - No one gives anything for him!

Okay, young man, maybe you're right again. But I beg you, go to the jeweler and evaluate his ring now.

When the young man showed the ring to the jeweler, he immediately valued it at a thousand gold coins.

Here is your ring, dear! - said the young man, returning to the Sufi. - The jeweler gives a thousand gold coins for it.

My child, the Sufi said then, you actually know as much about the Sufis as people in the bazaar knew about this ring.

After that, the young man realized how much he was mistaken about the Sufis, and from then on he began to revere them.

Submission training

Once upon a time, there lived one ascetic who had students, followers, and admirers. However, he often visited one Sufi master and had long conversations with him. One day, as usual, he came to the Sufi and said:

Teacher, I have been fasting constantly for more than thirty years, and I read prayers at night, so I hardly sleep. Although I have not found a trace of that innermost thing that you teach, I still believe in your teaching and love it.

Even if you are destined to pray and fast for all three hundred years, the Sufi answered, you still will not become wise. For you yourself are blocking your way to the Truth.

But is there a way to overcome this?

There is, but you will never agree to use it.

Oh teacher, you don't know me, I'll do whatever you say!

Good. Then take the bag and fill it to the top with nuts. Take off your clothes, wrap yourself in sheepskin, and in this form go to the market. There, call everyone you can, and promise them that you will give a nut to everyone who gives you a kick. Then go around the whole city and do the same until you run out of nuts. First of all, do it in a place where you are well known. So you will be healed.

But, teacher, that's impossible! I can not do it! Give me another tip!

But I told you that you would refuse, - the Sufi said quietly.

gift to imam

Once a Sufi master wrote a small book and ordered one of his students to take it to the imam as a gift. Giving the book to the student, he ordered him to carefully observe the reaction of the imam.

This book may seem offensive to the orthodox mind, may make the imam angry and negative emotions- admonished the master of the student. “But remember, all you have to do is remain calm, observe, and report your observations to me exactly.

The student found the imam in the garden of his house, next to him was his wife.

Who wrote this book? the imam asked.

The student named his teacher's name. And as soon as he did this, the imam's face twisted with anger, he threw the book away and angrily said:

This book will never get into my house! It is senseless and irreligious! Your master is dangerous to our faithful society, he is the cause of chaos and destroys our religion.

Hearing such words, the student immediately wanted to object, but, remembering the master's instructions, he pulled himself together. As he left, he heard the imam's wife trying to calm her husband:

Why are you so nervous, my precious husband? After all, you could throw this book away a little later, when this young man is gone. Was it necessary to show his rage? Such intemperate behavior is not at all befitting of your position. You have a large library, let this book stand there too, since you do not want to read it.

The young man did not hear the imam's answer, but he understood (at least it seemed to him) that the woman was much more compassionate and humane than her husband. But at the same moment, he remembered the words of the teacher that he should be just an observer and not bring his emotions into the events. He hurried to the teacher and reported to him everything he saw. True, at the very end of his story, he still could not stand it and said:

It seems to me, teacher, that the Imam's wife is simply a wonderful woman, and perhaps she understands you and can accept your teaching...

Before he could finish, the master interrupted him:

Wait, I didn't ask you to comment on what happened, I only told you to watch. I'm telling you this not as a reproach, but because you are really wrong. I am sure that very soon the imam will come to me, although you have seen with your own eyes that he is angry with me. He will feel that he was wrong, he will take the book and read it. As for a woman, she will never show interest in us and our teaching, because she is indifferent and is not interested in anything except her daily worries. So go back to the imam's house, see what he's doing now.

The student again went to the Imam's house. And - lo and behold, entering the garden, he saw that his teacher was right. In the fertile shade of a sprawling tree, the imam sat and carefully read the book of the master ...

Low bow to the thief

The Sufi passed by the scaffold, where the thief was about to be hanged, bowed low to the criminal.

You are a wise man, why did you do it? they asked him.

I bowed to his purposefulness,” the Sufi replied. He had a purpose and he gave his life for it.

Last straw

The caliph of Baghdad had everything a man could dream of: power, countless treasures, loyal subjects. But, having enjoyed all this, the caliph suddenly realized that his life was aimless, he ceased to understand what was the meaning of his stay in this world. The monotonous days dragged on. The advisers tried to occupy him with the affairs of the state, the wise men and travelers - with stories about distant lands and incredible miracles. But everything was useless: the caliph's gaze remained scattered, and his thoughts were gloomy. Life bored him, and he painfully tried to find a way out.

Once a certain traveler told the caliph about a hermit, to whom the secret was revealed, who knew what the meaning of life was. And for the first time in many years, the caliph's eyes lit up, his heart beat faster. He immediately warned the courtiers that he was going on a long journey and that he would take with him only an old faithful servant who had served him since childhood.

The path of wanderers ran through the Arabian desert, and she, as you know, severely punishes those who treat her without due respect. Without a guide, the travelers quickly got lost, and during a sandstorm they lost their camel and most of their luggage. All they had left was a small waterskin containing some water.

Terrible heat and thirst soon did their job - the old servant lost consciousness and fell unconscious. The caliph also suffered from the mercilessly scorching sun. He looked at the waterskin, which contained precious moisture.

Now he will open it, refresh his lips, pour in a longed sip. And then, perhaps, he will also fall on the sand, like his servant. But then he looked at the servant. This man, who meekly went with him on a long journey, is dying here, in a distant desert, dying, doing his duty to his master. And did this man in the last minutes of his life not deserve gratitude from him? The caliph realized that for many years this servant was simply a necessary thing, which was never destined to hear a kind word.

The Caliph took the sack and poured the rest of the water into the open lips of the servant. Soon he stopped moving and fell into a peaceful sleep. Peace appeared on his face, and the caliph, looking at him, experienced incredible joy, moments of happiness that he had never experienced before. And then a miracle happened - it started to rain, which happens in the Arabian desert every few years. The servant woke up, and the travelers filled the wineskin with water to the brim.

My lord, said the old man, forgive me for my weakness. Now we can continue our journey.

No, - the caliph shook his head, - I no longer need a meeting with the sage, I don't need his revelations. The Almighty has already revealed to me the secret of life.

Follower of the Prophet

One holy fool began to pretend to be a prophet. He was captured and brought before the Sultan. The Sultan interrogated him in the presence of a qadi and said:

This man allowed himself sacrilege, impudent and shameful. What does the law say, what punishment is provided for this?

If he persists in his - it is necessary to punish him with death.

Did you hear what this respected person said? - the sultan asked the holy fool. - How do you dare to call yourself a prophet? If you are a prophet, show us a miracle!

Okay, he replied. “Let them bring a sharp, sharp sword here.

What for? - the Sultan was surprised.

Lord, you wanted a miracle, and it will be. First I will cut off the qadi's head, and then I will raise him from the dead.

O venerable one! shouted the qadi, hearing these words. - I was the first to believe in you! From now on, you can consider me your follower!

Gatekeeper

One day an impatient student began to reproach his teacher:

Why are you doing this? You do not allow us, those who want to learn, to study from books. You do not demonstrate any rituals and secrets. You do not answer our questions, which we have more and more. You ignore both praise and abuse addressed to you.

I am the gatekeeper, replied the teacher. “And the gatekeeper's job is to make sure the door is open when it should be open, and shut when it should be shut.” The gatekeeper allows entry to all who should enter, and does not admit those whom the owner ordered not to be allowed in. Do you want a porter to bang on the door, wear clothes that are too rich or, on the contrary, too poor, make faces, take bribes, talk to visitors on irrelevant topics - all this instead of working?

Curse

A certain person, who considered himself a Sufi and announced this to everyone he met, but in fact was not such, one day went to a mill to grind his wheat there.

Hey you, miller, grind my wheat, but do it now, and live! - he shouted arrogantly to the miller, as is characteristic of all charlatans who are trying to get others to work for themselves.

I don't have time for your wheat right now, the miller replied.

If you don't do what I tell you, I will curse your mill, the pseudo-Sufi threatened.

Excellent, said the miller, who was actually a true Sufi, I will be very interested to see how you do it. “If you knew how to achieve the fulfillment of desires in such a simple way, then you would not stand in front of me and try to force me to grind your grain.

Dispute

A man who considered himself very wise learned the language of animals. One day he was walking down the street when he suddenly saw a donkey roaring at the dog with all his might. The one, in turn, that there is strength barked at the donkey. The man came closer and began to listen.

Everything that you tell me concerns only grass and pastures, - said the dog, - I want to tell you about meat and bones, because this is my food.

The donkey objected, saying that only grass can feed an animal. Here the man could not restrain himself and intervened in the dispute:

You will never understand a friend, you will never come to something in common, if you do not understand that the usefulness of hay is similar to the usefulness of meat.

The animals turned to the intruder. The dog barked at him ferociously, and then abruptly rushed and bit him on the leg. The donkey, in turn, quickly turned around and kicked its hind legs so hard that the man fell unconscious. After that, the animals, paying no more attention to him, continued their argument.

Talk about God

Dear, let's talk about God, - once asked a Sufi.

It will be better if we keep silent about Him, - said the Sufi.

But why?

If you talk about God, it will be an insult to Him. And if I talk about God, then for me it will be too great an honor, unworthy of me.

saving lie

One young man helped his old neighbor with a small amount of money. And after some time, the old man, leaving the house, saw how the soldiers were leading the young man to execution for a crime that he did not commit. The old man immediately shouted: “The padishah is dead, our great ruler has left us!” Hearing this, the soldiers hesitated, and the young man was able to flee. The old man did not succeed in hiding, and he did not particularly try to do so. He was seized and brought to the palace to the king himself.

Tell me, venerable old man, - the padishah turned to the old man, - why did you do this, why did you shout that I was dead? After all, you understand very well that such an act should be punishable by death!

O my lord, - the old man answered, - you died only in my words, death was waiting for the same unfortunate young man in reality. My words about you being dead didn't hurt anyone, but saved a life.

The wise words of the old man so struck and surprised the padishah that he ordered to reward him and immediately let him go home.

Does a bone enter into a dispute between dogs?

One day, two students of a Sufi school, right on the street, argued about a man and about the ways he could comprehend the Truth.

A person comprehends the Truth through his own efforts and incessant searches, - said the first. - He starts out completely ignorant, but then progresses and becomes knowledgeable.

The second student replied:

A person can comprehend the Truth only under the guidance of an experienced master, there is no other way.

They argued so fiercely that it almost came to blows. Fortunately, just at that moment a well-known Sufi master was walking down the street, and the students turned to him with a request to resolve their dispute.

Do you want me to comment on this? - asked the master.

Yes, teacher, we would be very grateful.

Good. I think all of you have seen dogs fight over a bone, right?

But have you ever seen a bone enter into their dispute? Think about it...

significant difference

Once a famous Sufi was asked:

What has grace given you?

When I wake up in the morning, the Sufi replied, I feel like a person who is not sure that he will live to see the evening.

But everyone can say that.

Yes, - said the master, - everyone really knows this. But not everyone feels it. No one has ever gotten drunk from the word "wine".

happiness and tail

An adult, wiser dog saw a puppy chasing its tail and asked:

And what, baby, are you going to chase your tail?

I studied philosophy, - proudly answered the puppy, - I comprehended the problems of the universe, which no dog before me could do. I realized that the best thing for us is happiness and that our happiness is in the tail. That is why I am chasing him, and when I catch him, he will be mine and happiness will come to me.

Kid, - said the adult dog, - when I was the same as you are now, a puppy, I was also interested in the problems of the universe and made up my mind about it. And you know, I also realized that happiness is great for a dog and that it is in my tail. But then I noticed that wherever I go, whatever I do, the tail always follows me.

What have you learned from the Sufi?

A man came to a Sufi and asked to be his disciple.

If I say: “The son of my father, but not my brother,” the teacher asked the visitor, “whom do I mean?

He thought for a long time, but could not answer.

The man returned home. He was greeted by a crowd of fellow villagers.

What did you learn from the famous Sufi? they asked.

If I say, "My father's son, but not my brother," whom do I mean?

Himself! the villagers said in unison.

No-e-e-t! said the man proudly, his face glowing with joy. - Stupid, "my father's son" - this is the Sufi from the neighboring town. He told me that himself!

Philologist and dervish

The Sufi was walking home one late evening when he heard screams. They came from an abandoned shallow well.

Hey, who's here? - Shouted the Sufi, going to the well. - What happened?

You see, - the answer came, - not finding a way, I, to my great misfortune, fell into this deep well and now I can’t get out of it.

Hold on, friend, - said the Sufi, - I will help you, just give me time to get a rope and a ladder.

Wait a minute, said the man who had fallen into the well. - You see, I'm a philologist. You are illiterate, and it is quite obvious that your pronunciation is no good either. I beg you - be so kind as to correct it.

Well, what if for you this moment the correctness of words is more important than their meaning, then it’s better for you to stay where you are now for some time, until I learn to speak correctly and correct my pronunciation, ”the Sufi answered and went about his business.

Turtle and scorpion

One day a scorpion asked a tortoise to take him to the other side of the river. The tortoise refused for a long time, realizing that the scorpion could not be trusted, but still yielded. The scorpion climbed onto the tortoise and they swam away. Almost all the way, the scorpion behaved calmly, but in front of the very shore, he still could not resist and stung the turtle.

Oh you treacherous! exclaimed the tortoise indignantly. - My nature suggests that I should and strive to help everyone. Including you. You stung me, how could you?

But listen, replied the scorpion, you say that it is your nature to help. But my nature is to sting, and you and I know it. So what, you consider your nature to be virtue, and you call mine meanness? Where is the justice then?

Four consolations

By order of the ruler of the city, the teacher of the Sufi school was thrown into prison. A few days later his disciples came to visit him. To their surprise, the teacher did not change at all, did not look depressed or upset, he greeted them joyfully, as if it were in their own school, and not in prison.

Teacher, you are quite calmly enduring imprisonment. What comforts you here in this house of sorrow?

Four sayings, - answered the teacher. - First: "No one can avoid evil, for everything is predetermined by fate." Second:

“What can a person do in misfortune, how not to patiently endure his suffering? You're not the only one experiencing something like this." Third: "Be grateful to fate that something worse did not happen - after all, this is always possible." And finally, the fourth: "Deliverance may be close, although you do not know about it."

As soon as the Sufi said this, a guard entered the cell and announced that since the accusation was false and the liar confessed to everything, the Sufi could be free.

I choose bliss

One Sufi master was always happy, the smile never left his face, and his eyes were cheerful, sadness never appeared in them. More than once, his students, of whom he always had a lot, asked:

Teacher, you are always laughing and never sad. How do you do it? Even when you are sick, you still laugh, although what can be funny in illness?

A long time ago I came to my master. He was already a very old man, ailments overcame him, but he still smiled, just like that, for no reason.

And I asked, as you now asked me: “Master, how do you manage to always smile?” “Inside, in my soul, I am always free,” the teacher answered me. - Just once I made such a choice and always follow it. Every morning, when I open my eyes, I ask myself the question: “What should I choose today - bliss and joy or suffering? And so it happens that every time I choose bliss. It’s so natural…”

Black slave and dog

A wealthy merchant owned, among other things, a luxurious orchard. One day he went for a walk in it, and when he was walking through the vineyard, he saw a black slave. He was located right on the ground, with a piece of bread in his hands, and a dog was sitting opposite him. The slave broke off a piece of bread and threw it to the dog. And then another, and another, until at last he had fed all he had.

The merchant approached him and asked:

How much bread do you get per day?

That's all I had.

Why are you giving bread to a dog?

She came running from somewhere far away, and it is immediately clear that she is very hungry. That's why I decided to feed her.

But what are you going to eat today? - asked the merchant.

Nothing. But it's okay, I'll be patient.

Hearing these words, the merchant thought: “I am known throughout the region as a generous person, and indeed, I have helped a lot of people. But this man has surpassed me, even though he just fed bread to a hungry dog.” After that, the merchant gave the slave freedom and gave him the whole large orchard.

At the end of the 30s of the XVIII century. in Podolia (on the border with Bessarabia) a new religious and mystical movement arose, which had no analogues in its scope for the entire time of the existence of Judaism. It became known as Hasidism (literally, “the teaching of piety”). The beginning of this important movement in the history of Judaism was laid by Rabbi Israel ben Eliezar, nicknamed Besht, who combined an enthusiastic religious feeling, inspired by mystical exaltation, with a deep knowledge of the psychology and moods of the masses. Within a very short time, the Hasidic movement embraced the Jewish population of Podolia, Volhynia, Galicia, Ukraine, and then spread with extraordinary speed throughout Lithuania. Belarus, Romania and Hungary.

Hasidism owes its extraordinary success to a large extent to the fact that its founder, the Baal Shem Tov, was able to give a practical character to his teaching, the metaphysical foundations of which were religious pantheism and the recognition of continuous interaction between man and God, and also managed to find a form for his system, to the fullest extent. responding to the principles of the democratization of Judaism building a religion on the basis of a person's cordial, intimate attachment to God and an optimistic attitude towards life and people. The essence of his teaching was reduced to religious pantheism.

At the root of the "doctrine of piety" lies the idea that the world is not an emanation of the Divine (as the teaching of Kabbalah says), but only a manifestation of the Divine. The following principles follow from this:

1. Good and evil. Since there is only Deity in the world, then nothing can be considered absolute evil. Evil represents a special, temporary form of manifestation of the Divine; there is no evil in itself.

2. Sin and piety. Every person, no matter how low he falls, is always able to rise to the Divine, for nothing and no one can be absolutely bad. God is present in a bad person as well as in a righteous person.

3. Service to God. Target human life consists in merging with the Divine Source of life. A person should strive to cognize the Divine mystery, which is the feeling of merging with the Divine, which after all explanations remains just as incomprehensible to a person who has not experienced this feeling, as to a blind color.

The merging of a person with the Divine is achieved not by studying the Law, which is accessible only to a few, but by enthusiastic prayer, in which a person feels merged with the Source Divinity.

This true goal of human existence is also achieved through the fulfillment of the commandments, and the believer should pay attention not to ritual scrupulousness, but to the fact that the fulfillment of each commandment is accompanied by enthusiasm and is imbued with religious feeling.

But not only by prayer and the fulfillment of the commandments is the highest goal of human existence achieved, it requires continuous service to God throughout life. Since every act of life is a manifestation of the Divine, then a person is obliged to live in such a way that his earthly deeds turn into Divine ones. This is achieved by concentrating all thoughts and feelings on God and bringing all life phenomena to Him.

4. Ways of service. Asceticism, like the fear of God, are less perfect ways of serving God than cheerful and joyful service to Him, filled with a responsible outlook on life and people.

5. A sinner should not grieve over the past, for one should rejoice that a heavenly voice will sound in his soul, calling him to repentance. In general, one should treat a sinner as a righteous person, because such an attitude arouses good feelings about people, forcing them to rise to God.

At present, Hasidism has completely lost its sectarian character and, as an equal member, has entered Orthodox Judaism.

Parables of mankind. (5)