
What is the differenceBetween your experience of ExistenceAnd that of a saint?The saint knows
That the spiritual path
Is a sublime chess game with God
And that the BelovedHas just made such a Fantastic Move
That the saint is now continually
Tripping over JoyAnd bursting out in LaughterAnd saying, "I surrender!"
Whereas, my dear,
I am afraid you still think
You have a thousand serious moves.
~ Hafiz about 1320-1389
Spurred with the desire to gain publicity for himself, one day Hasan, seeing Rabia in a general congregation of saints, came to her and said, "Rabia, let us leave this congregation and sitting on the waters of the lake, hold our spiritual discussion there." He said this to display his miraculous power before others, for he had gained mastery over water as Christ had walked over water. Rabia remonstrated, "Hasah, put your vanity aside. If you are so determined to separate yourself from the general assembly of saints, why should we not both fly and hold our meeting there in the air?" Rabia said this as if she had that power. Hasan knew he could not do this and said as much, shamed by her words. Rabia said, "Know that what you can do fishes can also do-- easily. What I suggested was no more than what a fly does. Reality transcends this miracle-mongering. Seek humility."Fariduddin Attar