Submission of the False Self

A merchant and a dervish are walking in the
forest talking about God when a lion bursts forth
from a thicket. Both men run, tumble down a em-
bankment and have managed to grab hold of some
roots. They dangle over a great chasm.

“Why has God brought this great misfortune upon me?”
says the merchant. “I pray every day, feed the poor,
give money to the madrasa, read the Holy
Koran! I have taken care of all my obli-
gations and now God has turned his back on me and
secured my death. The dervish is laughing! “Don’t laugh
dear friend you are in the same perdiciment
as I” The dirvish smiles at his friend. The merchant
continues his complaint, “I have done everything
for God and all he has given me is struggles
and worry. Why do I try, tell me good friend what
is the point of serving God when he brings only
misfortunes?” The dervish is now happily sing-
ing a poem from the Mansavi, ” I trust you
Lord even if you slay me.” The merchant is at
his wits end, “You dervishes are all MAD!” I am
done with this struggle, this veil of tears, I am done
with God who has turned his back on me’ With that the
merchant lets go of the roots and is smashed on
the rocks below. The dervish is still singing. The
lion is persistent and is now above the
dervish. “Why are you singing dervish don’t you know
death is waiting for you above or below? The
dervish smiles. ” I know oh most noble lion
but my annihilation is of no cocern
to me because I am at the threshold of my
Beloved. Tell me most beautiful lioness,
how hungry are you?” The lioness licks her lips,
” I have not eaten in three days and have three small
ones that cry incessently, I have cried to God
to save my little ones.” The dirvish is laughing
and tears are running down his face. ” You are making
me angry dervish, do not laugh at my suffer-ing.”
The dervish shakes his head, ” Allah be praised
for he has brought you a dervish dinner, here take
my hand and pull me up from ths ledge that you may
eat.

The moon is out and in the hollow of a den
three small lions sleep peaceful and the night is filled
with a gentle purring of mercy and the world
turns like a dervish in sema.