A Sufi story

[struggle4progress]

Abdullah ben Yahya was showing a manuscript, which he had written to a visitor. This man said: But this words has been incorrectly spelt. He at once deleted the word and wrote it in the manner of which is guest approved. When the man had left, Abdullah was asked: Why did you do that, considering that the correction was in fact inaccurate and you wrote the wrong word where the right one had been?

He answered: That was a social occasion. The man thought he was helping me and thought that the expression of his ignorance was an indication of knowledge. I applied the behaviour of culture and politeness, not the behaviour of truth, because when people want politeness and social interchange they cannot stand the truth. Had I stood in relation to this man as a teacher to student, matters would have been different. Only stupid people and pendants imagine that their duty is to instruct everyone, when the motive of people is generally not to seek instruction but to attract attention.

http://caravanofdreams.wordpress.com/2011/03/22/the-friend-we-all-have-and-the-sufi-anecdote-called-correction/

[Warpy]

1. While this is true, the word should have been changed back

after the helpful doofus left.

There is a limit to keeping the peace with doofi around us. Not standing against things like unfairness and racism is a coward's way out, not the polite way out. We don't need to lecture people but we do need to tell them they're wrong.

Then move on by changing the subject.

[JuniperLea]

2. Great find...

Very fitting to many issues we read here on DU.

[mahina]

3. Pendants?

(ducking)

[Silent3]

4. "The behaviour of truth" is what I want out of public discussion forum...

...without "the behaviour of culture and politeness" being completely ignored, but definitely taking second place.

I think it's interesting, by the way, that the quoted text says "words" where it should say "word", and "spelt" (not totally incorrect, but awkward) instead of "spelled".

Almost as if someone hoped to test the moral of the story with the story. :)

[AlecBGreen]

9. YOU FAILED THE TEST

:spank: repent!

[eShirl]

5. I like that story.

[RandomThoughts]

6. Many years ago, I learned to not correct people.

Or not point out someones mistakes in some comment, it only makes someone feel bad, and in most cases small errors don't need to be corrected when they still convey some idea that can be understood.

Or if I get the meaning of what someone says, then I don't need for all the exact information to be accurate, and I don't have to point out some mistake in some comment if I get what they are trying to say.

I learned that knowing something, and showing someone you know something are two different things, and some things people don't need to know, if they are doing fine in many other ways.

Then someone tried to take my beer and travel money, and have not sent me the beer and travel money that is due, and the situation changed.

I look forward to traveling, and having an occasional beer, without having to think about correcting things, knowing such things are not that important.

But I am currently due beer and travel money and that will be sent.


In the same way, an error of needing someone to conform to something, does not always need to be corrected, and someone like that guy mentioned, can alter his behavior to better fit into some situation.

However if it was required for truth to be know, to correct a debt of beer and travel money for instance, then the truth would be required. If it was just for attention, or to be thought to know more, when nobody really knows for sure, then it would not be required.

But I am due beer and travel money.

[GeorgeGist]

7. Ignorance is Bliss ...

and other lamitudes persist.

[Curmudgeoness]

8. I like this story. And I should keep this in mind at times.

I am too blunt with people almost all the time, and this tells me that there are times when it doesn't matter enough to try to point out to someone that they are an idiot. Maybe I could be more popular if I try this.

[BridgeTheGap]

10. "when people want politeness and social interchange they cannot stand the truth."

Which is probably why pointing out that they're WRONG won't get through any way. There's still a lot of "in between" here, different ways of dealing with the situation. Maybe even the "fool" eventually realized his error and reflected on his erroneous advice.

[Ninjaneer]

11. Idiotic.

Way to promote ignorance Mr. Yahya. I for one am unsurpassingly glad that there are "stupid people and pendants" that imagine their duty to be the correction of falsities.