Hassan Al Basra a notable theologian and scholar (642-728
C.E.) was asked by one of his followers to talk about his teachers. He said - I
have had many teachers but three in particular gave me the most valuable
lessons of my life:
The first lesson I learned was from a thief. One night I got
lost and I had left my house key with my neighbor. I didn't want to wake him so
I asked for help from a by stander and he opened the door to my house in a
split second. I was surprised and I asked him to teach me how he did that, he
confessed that he was a thief. I was baffled but to show him my appreciation I
invited him in. He stayed with me for a month but he left the house every night
and returned in the morning. Every time I asked him if he got anything he would
say – no but hopefully tomorrow! He seemed to be content and he never
complained. What I learned from him was patience, persistence and hope.
The second lesson I learned was from a dog. One day I was
thirsty and I tried to drink water from a river close by. A dog that was
seemingly thirsty joined me but every time he tried to drink he was frightened
by the reflection of his own image in the water. Finally, he threw himself in
the river and drank fearlessly.
The third lesson I learned was from a little girl who was carrying
a lit candle. To make conversation and to teach her something I asked her if
she lit the candle by herself and if she knew where the flame came from. In
response she started to laugh and put out the flame by using the palm of her
hand, then she said – Sir, do you know how the flame disappeared and where it
is now? I felt embarrassed and I kept thinking that we all have a sacred flame
in our heart and we don’t know where it comes from.
On that day I decided to connect with life and everything
that was around me including the clouds, the trees, the rivers, the woods, the
men and the women. I have had thousands of teachers and I have learned how to
light a flame in my heart and how to be a student in the University of Life. I
have learned great lessons from simple things in life.
#connecting, #flame, #hope
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