The crazy-wise Nasruddin visited a Sufi sage. The Sufi did not say a word to his visitor, though Nasruddin returned day after day. Finally, Nasruddin said, "Sir, you don't say anything to me. I've come to learn from your wisdom. If you don't say something, how will I understand how to walk the Way?" The Sufi replied, citing a Sufi maxim, "Do good and throw it in the well."
The following day, Nasruddin met an aged woman. He helped her cross the road. Then, he threw her in a well.
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We can hear truth and want to hear it. We receive it but are not prepared to apply it. We try to do right but end up misapplying the teaching.
Wisdom implies knowing how, what Buddhists sometimes refer to as skillful means. We can behave sincerely and, at the same time, unwisely, even as we can act wisely, lacking sincerity.
Knowing the how is often done by doing the how-not first. The Way, said Suzuki Roshi, is one mistake after another. Hopefully, we will forgive our blunders, knowing at least we are trying and improving on the how. We will never master what is most important, but let us aim to be as non-harming as possible.
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Another lesson from this parable is the adage the Sufi shared. Doing good and throwing it in a well is the practice of forgetfulness. Buddhists speak of our doing, and it not leaving traces. The Sufi aphorism says to do good, like walking in the sand but not leaving footprints. The maxim resonates with the Gospel guidance not to do good to be seen by others.
At the same time, humbleness is not rejecting recognition. Accept it with gratitude when recognized for the good you do. You can say, "Thank you." Then, throw it in the well.
* * *
Does this mean we should never want others to see what we do? We often do good for it to be seen, wishing it to bring joy to others. The good done is an expression of love.
We can say "I love you" through actions, through what we create from the inspiration of love. This is different from doing good for others to see us doing good - turning the spotlight on ourselves out of a need to be admired, recognized, or receive applause - turning life into a me-theatre. Instead, the good is an expression, not of ourselves as persons, but of love itself.
*Use of photography is allowed accompanied by credit given to Brian K. Wilcox and title and place of photograph.
*Brian's book, An Ache for Union: Poems on Oneness with God through Love, can be ordered through major online booksellers or the publisher AuthorHouse.
