Symbols of the world's religions

 
               

THE QUTUB, A KING & DOGS

Meher Baba

 
Once, when someone asked why Baba needed a night watchman, he related this story:

The Sufis call all human beings, except Qutubs, dogs! Because, according to them, ordinary men of the world are not worthy of being called anything else.

Once there was a Qutub living on the banks of a river; he always had a man guarding his door. One day the king of that city came to the door of the Qutub and demanded his darshan.

The watchman stopped him. He went inside and asked his Master's permission, which the Qutub refused, saying that he would not see the man now.

The king began to quarrel with the watchman, asking why the Master kept the doors closed. "Being a man of God, he should keep his gates open every minute," he said. They should never be closed. No one should be prevented from going inside. What need is there for a watchman like you?"

The Qutub replied from within: "A watchman is very much essential to drive away dogs like you!"

The king at once realized his insolence and ego in demanding an audience. He fell on his knees and humbly requested the watchman to beseech the Master to grant him audience.

The Qutub at once allowed the king inside and met him.

The ego always tickles us, especially on the planes when we realize that we are on the path and feel important and are tempted to tell others of our experiences.

Several days ago, a man came to me and related his experiences. I later explained to him that he was on the first subtle plane, but for all of you present that (meaning, the planes) is immaterial and unimportant.

These experiences of the planes are illusions within this great illusion — creation. I told the man not to tell others of his experiences, to take my name and not to give himself importance.

Otherwise, he will get stuck in the pleasures of the first plane with all its splendor, and his progress will be stopped.

That is why Hafiz says to the "caravan" to rise up and hurry. "You are not to rest here," he warns them.

The leader of the caravan says: "We have just arrived; let us enjoy the splendor of this place."

Hafiz says no and bids him to make haste and move on.

But on the third plane, Hafiz says: "Go slow, do not hurry, as the threshold of the fourth plane with its infinite power and temptations is near, so enter it with great care and caution."

 

LORD MEHER, 1st USA ed, vol 17-18, pp. 6193-6194, Bhau Kalchuri
2000 © Avatar Meher Baba Perpetual Public Charitable Trust

               

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