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The Gift
- A Sufi story
from:
Al Mureed Volume 2, Issue 2
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Once a man
went to a friend's house for a visit. He stayed for a few
day's and they had a nice time together. When it was time
for him to leave, his friend gave him a horse and told him
to take it as a gift. The gentleman was overjoyed. He
gratefully mounted the horse, waved good-by and rode away.
After about
ten days, the man returned on the horse. He was warmly
received again, and his friend said, "What happened?" He
said, "I don't know. I tried to go to such and such town,
but the horse wouldn't go. He just wanted to come back
here." The host said, "That's all right. This horse was born
and raised here. He is attached to this town, to this
village, to my things, and with everything here. I can
understand. But remember, I gave him to you. Now he's yours
to take where you will." The man said, "I understand. I am
grateful." So he stayed on there for one or two more days,
learning more about the horse and how to handle him, and
once again he mounted and went away. |
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"In the same way GOD
gives people the gift of the mind, but they do not
always know how to use it properly. So He also has
another responsibility, and that is why GOD has to
send people of His Knowledge,
to give that education
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Ten days passed and he suddenly appeared at his friend's house
one evening. He was once again warmly received and was fed and
comforted. Then his friend asked, "What happened this time?"
The man said, "The same thing. I went to two different towns. I
stayed a few day's in each, and all was well. I was very happy.
I was on my way to a third town when the horse just turned
around, retraced his steps, and would only stop when he got
here. There was nothing I could do." Then the host
realised
what was needed in the situation. He said, "Well, let us tell
you how to deal
with
this horse." The man
gratefully
said, "All right." During the next month he was given all the
preparation necessary to handle the horse. This time he left
town, and was gone for good. He never came back.
As they had
stood waving good-bye to their friend for the last time, the
host's wife questioned her husband. She said, "What was our
responsibility in this situation? I mean, you were exceedingly
kind to your friend. You gave him a horse and he came back
twice. Then for one month you had to give him education ." The
host said, "You can give a gift, but somebody may not be able to
use it. They may need education to make it a valuable and
realistic gift. That education was also our responsibility."
In the same way
GOD gives people the gift of the mind, but they do not always
know how to use it properly. So He also has another
responsibility, and that is why GOD has to send people of His
Knowledge ('Al Arifeen' -Gnostic or Knower of GOD) , to give
that Divine education so that the mind may not bring you back to
your own difficulty.
A Sufi story from:
Al Mureed Volume 2, Issue 2
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