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."
