Taming the tiger

A sufi travelled long distances to visit a very famous Saint Sheikh Abu Hasan whom he had heard about a great deal. The sufi wanted to request the Sheikh to make him his disciple. The sufi had planned to spend the rest of his life in the service of the great Sheikh.

After a long and ardous journey, he reached the door of Sheikh's house. As he knocked, the Sheikh's wife Salma opened the door slightly. " What do you want", she asked sternly. She looked angry and annoyed. " Kind lady...", the sufi began gently but was cut short.

" Cut the crap and come to the point. What do you want?", she asked coldly.

" I have travelled long to meet the great sheikh. I am very tired, can i come in and meet the great Sheikh."

"Great you say!", cried Salma sarcastically. " That scoundrel fools the whole world by pretending to be holy. That weak and miserable man.... You are just wasting your time. Don't you have better things to do? Now stop wasting my time and be on your way" she said.

"Madam, i request you please let me meet him if only for a minute", said the agitated sufi.

" Why do you want to meet that imposter and crooked man. I cook and clean and wipe while he is busy giving philosophy lectures to the whole world. His wisdom is sham. Go away I say."

" Madam, the man you call an imposter is a shining light to the whole world", argued the sufi.

" You stupid man and your stupid sheikh.. Leave right away or i will hit you with this utensil", shouted Salma.

The sufi was shocked at what he was hearing. He tried again. " Madam, Sheikh's name has reached far and wide. He is known for his piousness and wisdom. Why are you talking like this about him", he asked.

" The sheikh deserves a knock on his head and you too". She picked up a utensil lying close to her and banged the sufi's head.

The sufi got very angry and lunged the the door. With a very fast movement, Salma closed the door and bolted it. The sufi was very angry and wanted to curse Salma. But knowing that she was sheikh's wife, he decided to leave.

He shouted behind the closed door. " I am shocked that a pious man like your husband is paired with you. An angel married to the devil. But your ugliness will not prevent me from seeking the great man".

" Find him in hell", shouted Salma behind the closed door.

The sufi was shocked by this behavior. Doubts arouse in his mind. Had he been wrong about the Sheikh? Did he come so far for meeting an imposter? Was Sheikh really as wise as he had heard? If Sheikh was really so wise, how could he be married to such a ill-mannered lady? Should he just go back home? He though for a while and decided to meet the Sheikh since he had come so far.

He decided to go the village market and there an old woman told him that he could find the Sheikh in the forest outside the village. The Sheikh used to go there to collect firewood. The sufi made his way to the forest. As he was passing a thick bush, suddenly he heard a loud roar. All of a sudden, a large fierce tiger pounced on him and brought him to the ground.. The sufi started shivering with fear.

Just as he was about to shout for help, he heard a gentle voice. " Easy, easy , leave him alone. He has come to meet me."

The sufi saw a old turbaned man sitting atop the tiger.. There were firewood sticks tied to the back of the tiger. In the hand of the man atop the tiger, was a black whip which seemed to have a life of its own. On observing closely, the sufi realized that it was actually a black snake.

The sufi sat up and looked at the great Sheikh in astonishment. There was a soft tender glow on his face. On the top of Sheikh's head, he could see a beautiful bright aura. The tiger had calmed down and was looking away. The sufi was beweildered to see this sight.

" So, you have met her?" Sheikh laughed. " And she has filled you with rage, smoke and doubt. Don't be tempted by the tigers of your mind, ride them. "

" But how could such a woman be married to somebody like you. Such bad pairing, such disharmony", the sufi uttered as he was amazed by such a marriage.

" Everything has a purpose, my friend. She keeps me humble", replied the Sheikh.

" But she is so.."

" Oh, so you argued with her. You want to make her see the light, to change her! You should have kept your mouth shut. There is no winning with her", the Sheikh said softly.

" But why should GOD give you so much suffering?", asked the sufi.

" if GOD had not married me with her, how would have i gained the strength to tame this tiger", replied the Sheikh calmly.

THE END

Discussion Points

1.The wife in this story is symbolic of difficult circumstances/challenges that we face in life. Human mind works based on reaction. All our lives, we are reacting to the situations which are happening outside of us. We categorize them as good or bad. If events are good (according to our categorization) we feel happy and if we categorize an event as bad, we feel unhappy. But if we act wisely, our spiritual growth is fastest in adverse situations. Sheikh got paired with a person which helped him in developing his mind to an extent that he can even ride a tiger.

2: The story tells us that we have no control over outside events or person. It is how we react to the situation that determines our spirituality. The real test of the spirituality is not trying to avoid the unfavorable events, but to face the unfavorable event with calmness.

3: Riding of the tiger is symbolic of controlling our mind. Sheikh advises Sufi to control (ride) his anger and emotions rather than getting e by them. And that is what one can do- controlling our mind rather than trying to control the situation which may or may not be under our control

4. The sheikh was considered to be the wisest man and the light of world in spite of having a difficult marriage. This shows that we should not judge the real power of a wise person based on the situation this is around him, but rather based on how he handles things.

5. the Sheik would have done his spiritual practices while living with a difficult partner. He has learned not to argue or change but to chanell the challenge that GOD has given him to fuel his purpose in life.

6. Many of us wait for the opportune time to start the inner work but that opportune time does not come. We have to work even harder when the conditions are adverse. Rather than waiting for the opportune time, one should directly delve into the task one wants to do.

Story Credit: This story has its source in the six volumes of the 'Mathnawi of Jalalu’din Rumi', edited and translated by Reynold A. Nicholson ( Cambridge, England, 1982)