A famous Sufi master was invited to give a course in California.
The auditorium was full at 8AM – the time announced – when one of the assistants came onto the stage.
“The master is just waking up. Please be patient.”
Time passed, and people started leaving the room.
At midday, the assistant returned to the stage, saying that the master would be starting the lecture the minute he finished talking to a pretty girl he had just met.
Most of the remaining audience left.
At 4PM the master appeared – apparently drunk.
This time, all but 6 people stormed out.
“I will teach you this,” said the master, ceasing to act drunk.
“Whoever wishes to go down a long path, must learn that the first lesson is to overcome early disappointments.”
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I just changed job and am now working for a real esstate firm awaiting a good opening for a history teacher. It seemed a good deal, I could wait while working until a real good opening came by instead of having to accept everything causing me to miss out on those job openings I really wanted. What do I have to do? Easy, I have to answer the phone and book appointments in the city where the movie La merditude des choses is set. This city is a town near Brussels and so I mainly deal with people from Brussels who look for a cheaper place in the cities near Brussels. Easy peasy, money in the bank, only I am under strict instructions to get rid off everything and everyone black that doesn’t buy a house. Since we are brokers, the people letting us peddle appartments for them give us instructions and guess what unanimously their first instruction is no blacks or no immigrants as a whole. One of the owners is Turkish third generation immigrant and he gives out the same instructions.
At first it was said I had to be able to filter, meaning I had to get a “feel” for what where good renters over the phone immediately. Next it became if black people call, do this or that so we get rid of the bad ones. Next they put a percentage on the amount of bad ones, ninety percent. Next that became, no more appointments for blacks. And now I’m supposed to lie everytime they call and tell them whatever they ask for is rented.
There’s a very simple demographical background to this. The African community in Brussels is moving into smaller city centers around Brussels and since the majority of Flanders is factually racist they like to live together. Dutch is one of the hardest languages in the world to learn so there’s a huge communication problem.
So the city center of my hometown started showing ever more Dark Africans next to the earlier North African community. Belgium has a link with Congo and Congo is the worst place to be on earth if you’re poor, also Belgium has a milder integration system than it’s neighboring countries. So there’s a great number of African immigrants on the housing market and ever more. The stigma is told like this (sorry Africans or nonwhites but this is how a racist thinks): “I’m not a racist because (next they mention some immigrant they like and hang out with) but and next they start telling you these extreme stories like: A lady rented out an appartment to one African and after a month fifteen were living in it, etc. Or they talk about the impact on the Belgian social system. There is a problem there, because it’s hard to make anyone from a warzone with zip education understand the subtleties of a an endlessly complex society and system as the Belgian one.
The truth is that there’s this invisible wall of constant disappointment set up as a cowardly secret protest against the flexible regularization policies and the perceived as undeserved social benefits any economic migrant is natuarally heavily dependent on. In education I worked in schools where almost 100 % of the students didn’t speak the native language, the school was despite the great and heroic efforts of the teachers a dump where the level compared to a “white” school I taught at was incredibly low. The social backgrounds of the students was in many cases very troubled and it also resulted in criminal behavior amongst the kids. At the very beginning they get sidelined in ever more bluecollared jobs oriented education. The lower you go down the ladder the more international it gets. Next they go onto a labor market where clients refuse to be served or visited by “strangers” and when they look for a first appartment they get stonewalled everywhere. And that’s what I have to do now. I don’t want to lie to my students, I feel a teacher has to remain in touch with the society he’s socializing students into and everytime I move into another sector for a short while you bump into that invisible wall.
And I absolutely hate and loathe having to be a part of it. It breaks my heart that the economic logic is completely in line with this racism since the majority of the African calls is for the cheapest appartments and I’m the guy having to be the asshole that basically puts them outside. So far, I kept booking if they were able to provide me with the necessary documents, but it’s senseless since they are always refused sometimes even locked out by the owners when they show up for a visit.
I have no real job openings in history education and it’s either a government handout or this job where I got an arrangement that can leave at the slightest chance in education something I can’t get anywhere. Still, I’m not a coward and frankly disgusted. It is really a Kaste system and where I wanted to dedicate my life to making shortminded bigotry disappear I now find myself it’s wageslave. I have taken great disappointments in education but that’s nothing compared to how I feel after three weeks of being confronted with the same damn racist bullshit.
That’s my story, it’s not a pretty one, just how it is, sorry I made it that long but I had to spill my guts about it. I tried talking to people about it but I got a stream of extreme examples for an answer. Anyone need a history, cultural sciences, behavorial sciences, Eglish, art history, project work, PR, tourism teacher anywhere but here? Seriously.
best wishes
Yes. Beginnings are a mixed bag: beginner’s luck and beginner’s disappointment. Visionaries are usually not swayed by that. Then comes the process of persuing the legend – that is where persistence and consistency are really learned. But the real big big test is the last one, when one is really close and the big loss comes (the way Santiago was robbed and beaten when he reached the pyramids). Some lose their lives. Some say – lets cut our losses before it is too late. Some just do not take that turn because they are capable to foresee it. Which one of them is the wisest?
Thank you Satoraki, we have missed you!!!
LOVE,
Thelma xxx
@Alvan
Enso…an ancient Zen symbol of mystery…
“…Circle of Infinity…
Emptiness with fullness, all things visible, all things unseen. To end and to begin.
… circle of Life.”
penso sia molto saggio*
Special Master.
Wise story.
Perfect symbol pictures.
Can be readily applied in the practice.
Love
Good One!!!
It’s difficult to overcome from the initial disappointment but i’m agree with Annie that it all depends how much you want?
I don´t really believe in that there is a “master” …. but there is people that have expirience of life and I listen to all to learn whatever I can learn. I see that all humans can learn me something and I can learn they something :-) Hasta la vista … have a happy day :-)
Paulo,
The timing of this story of persistence is impeccable. I just got home from watching a documentary that tells the story of a man who began to pursue his personal legend after being diagnosed with untreatable cancer. Given just five years to live, he set out to make his dream come true and encountered multiple rejections, the physical stress of cancer treatments, and his own emotional hurdles.
I first read the the Alchemist years ago, but your story instantly came to mind as the documentary unfolded. It was wonderful to draw the parallels between the man in the film and Santiago. Now I get home to check your website and here is the same lesson in yet another form. I’ll take tonight’s events as an omen. It goes to show that the same story CAN be told in many forms without losing its value.
Thank you again.
-Matt
La verdad es que dejar de esperar da paz, son de las cosas que son más fáciles de decir que de hacer, pero para conseguir algo se necesita trabajo, quizá haya que impacientarse para dejar de hacerlo, en cualquier caso, la paz que se consigue vale la pena el esfuerzo.
Un saludo.
I’ll illuminate
Disillusionment we hate
How unfortunate
So caught up with the
Messengers presentation
We miss the message
What is my problem
I am still wanting the world
On my selfish terms
When you think it’s wrong
Why do you want the world to
Apologize to you
Life just as it is
Now practice this perfection
Calm calamity
ahh!! I love this story! A huge dose of Motivation when I really really needed it. Thanks and lots of Love
hi , anyone knows the meaning of the chinese calligraphy painting/
Saber esperar es bueno, saber soportar las decepciones es bueno, nos hace fuertes.
Gracias por este espacio para compartir.
this was really good
a wonderful lesson for the people who are stuck in something that happens and that’s that. nothing on the earth can take them out and the rest of their life is gone after it.
the days obstacle end with the ending day. its a new day with every sunrise.
I love it! A good story to tell with a lesson to be learned. With what lays ahead in our path we will be faced with disappointment from time to time, but its what you make of the obstacles that turn the disappointments to life lesson.
PAULO GRACIAS POR EL POSSSST LA VERDAD ES INCREIBLE TE CUENTO SUFRI MUCHOS AÑOS POR SER TANNN IMPACIENTE HOY EN DIA PUEDO DECIR QUE ME CURE DE ESE MAL QUE AQUEJA A MUCHOS Y ES CULPABLE DE MUCHAS PELEAS SEPARACIONES Y SUFRIMIENTO YO AGRADEZCO TU RELATO Y ESPERO QUE LOGRES CURAR A MUCHOS QUE COMO YO SUFREN DE IMPACIENCIA Y ADEMAS SE APRENDE A SUPERAR OBSTACULOS DIA A DIA MINUTO A MINUTO PORQUE NO TODO PUEDE SER COMO QUEREMOS Y EN EL MOMENTO QUE LO QUEREMOS SINO CUANDO DIOS ASI LO QUIERE
Wow I will remember this one ! Deep breath – take your time – think -thank you again Paulo.
Love, patience, understanding. You don’t stop loving the sky even when the clouds appear.
With love
Barbara
I was commenting from my mobile earlier and hit post too soon. …. I wanted to close with….I will be patient with Harper Collins, If you will too, Paulo. The true ones who will gain from the wisdom of the Magus will wait with smiles and joy even with the wackiness of Harper Collins right now.
I respect the crazy times in which we live.
Warm blue peaceful light surround all involved,
((((LOVE))))
Lainee
Perfect for this girl, Paulo. Thanks. Everyone seems to have ALEPH but me, and have read it, or are reading it. Do I, in anger “take my dolls and dishes and go home”? No! I know that Paulo has had to be as the drunk Sufi master and be patient with his USA
El enso me recuerda al ouroboros.
Dear Paulo:
I will try to keep this in mind as I go through this long and slow path. I learned lots of lesson except this one, no matter how many time I go through the lesson I am not able to grasp it but this time I will try harder ;-)
The Sufi master is defiantly not a reflection of Paulo, I’m sure everyone would have waited whatever happened.
I am currently going through a challenging relationship breakup and through my mentor I have discovered your books. They have been very inspiring in terms of realizing things about myself and the new path I am heading.
Today’s blog on overcoming obstacles is so true that it puts things in perspective.
I thank you and look forward to reading all your books.
Lessons, lessons, lessons. I certainly don’t sit around and wait for masters. I make sure He finds me busy whenever He decides to arrive, OR I go searching in the streets; Where is my damned Beloved.. Sorry, the heat is screwing with my mind. I know. I need to come down..Life is meant for dancing, weather it is dancing with the Sufi master or with all the other great sufis bumping into us along the road..Ladies, do not waste your life waiting…This ancient trick men try to brainwash us with, it is depressing. Life is here to be lived, as much as possible, every single moment…Waiting is boring, and life is not boring, so waiting is wrong. Look at the Christians..what is it, we have waited now for 2000 years? What came out of it? It is ridiculous.. No God is worth waiting for for 2000 years! My God is One right here, right now.. or He/She is just not into me.. Love doesn’t wait, love speed it up because love can never wait..Basta
This reminds me a little of going to a concert. Sometimes the artist makes the audience wait a long time until he or she finally appears on stage, people start boo-ing, feet are hurting, you get tired but then…finally Paul McCartney, or whoever you have been waiting for, gets on stage and EVERYTHING of the long wait is forgotten in a split second!
My example doesn’t really have anything to do with a long path (although Paul McCartney’s concerts are long, and fantastic) but it might show that there are bigger things than disappointments and we shouldn’t put too much weight on them, and instead move on and enjoy life :)
I don’t like people that waste my time, but sill life has showed me MANY TIMES that sometimes things aren’t as they seem.
…
Very helpful the post. :)
Cease to act drunk.
German Translation. Viel Spaß!
Ein berühmter Sufi-Meister wurde eingeladen, einen Kurs in Kalifornien halten.
Der Hörsaal war um 8 Uhr morgens voll – zu der Zeit die angekündigt war – als einer seine Assistenten auf die Bühne kam.
“Der Meister ist gerade erwacht. Bitte haben Sie Geduld. ”
Die Zeit verging, und die Leute begannen den Raum zu verlassen.
Am Mittag kehrte der Assistent auf die Bühne zurück und sagte, dass der Meister seine Vorlesung beginnen würde, sobald er das Gespräch mit dem hübschen Mädchen beendet hat, welches er gerade kennen gelernt hatte.
Die meisten der verbliebenen Zuschauer verließen den Hörsaal.
Um 16.00 Uhr erschien der Meister – offensichtlich betrunken.
Diesmal stürmten alle bis auf 6 Leute nach draußen.
“Ich werde sie folgendes lehren,” sagte der Meister, und hörte auf sich wie ein Betrunkener zu benehmen.
“Wer wünscht einen langen Weg zu gehen, muss lernen, dass die erste Lektion ist, frühzeitige Enttäuschungen zu überwinden.”
LOL
A funny story with a serious background. A certain degree of politeness we should probably keep . It is very hard to treat people so disrespectful. On the other hand, he is surely right. Patience is something very important. Sufi masters are unpleasant people as it seems. He will have his reasons for this lesson. I do not know which. Maybe he just wanted to have those in the room who have a genuine interest. A kind of test. Overcome disappointments and to have confidence in a teacher seems to be part of life. If I am convinced he is good, then I must wait. I’m still not sure what I learn from this story. But I find it very good. Thank you.
I wish you all a wonderful day
Life – The teacher.
YAY! Right on time! Thank you.
:)
I’m still not happy with this one.
I always think of the poor woman who payed a fortune for her train or plane-ticket to listen to this famous master and who had to leave to catch her train/plane back
without hearing one word from him.
Lesson lost on her!
In Greek we say: A good day shows itself from the .. morning!
Η καλή μέρα από το πρωί φαίνεται!!!
Obviously to have patience is a virtue! But to be punctual shows respect to others! ;-))) I do not know if I could become a .. disciple to this Sufi!
“Whoever wishes to go down a long path, must learn that the first lesson is to overcome early disappointments.”
It seems that … I am not yet ready for .. disappointments!! ;-)) Next .. life!!
LOVE,
Thelma xxx
SALUTE FOR THIS WISDOM YOU GAVE US :)
Thank you dear Paulo! I am glad I came to read your post today….. it teach me to……. HAVE PACIENCE. I NEED TO LEARN THIS PAULO, cause I FEEL I HAVE LOST MINE! :(
With the outside world
There is only one appointment
That’s disappointment
When I-mind is dead
All obstacles disappear
So Divine Life flows
Forget the teacher
Even forget the teaching
Remember your Self
In the end it’s all about how much you want it….
if you want it soooooo much, then no disappointment will hinder you and get you astray from your path…
Love and Gratitude
Annie
Ola Paulo,
lembro de ter lido essa passagem em algum livro seu, nao estou certo. Mas é uma coisa mto seria e verdadeira. Quando a gente parar de ter pena de gente mesmo, encarar nossos sonhos de frente, lutar para torna-los realidade vamos aprender que coisas que nos deixam desapontados, tristes, como a ingratidao de um amigo, o nao reconhecimento de um ato de bravura ou de coragem, etc, fazem parte do caminho, acho que para testar se estamos realmente aptos para seguir em frente em busca de nossos sonhos. Por exemplo, vc quer isso, ok, vamos ver se vc esta apto para ter, vc voce sabe lutar, se vc sabe vencer e, principalmente, se vc sabe perder, pq todo mundo esta preparado para a vitoria mas poucos estao preparados para a derrota… embora ela faça parte do bom combate!
um abraço
Saulo – Juiz de Fora (MG) Brasil
This is such a good story and I have heard similar versions in a Sufi context before but of course it fits any spiritual tradition. Most of us have expectations that act like a veil that hides the real from us and, as this story shows, those expectations are the first thing we need to drop on the spiritual path because they are creations of our egos which are so adept at getting in the way and clouding our eyes to real seeing.
That’s a nice story…but the image is even more great! I had written a poem inspired by this image once:
I know that you are there
At the very time and place we will meet, without knowing yet where
At that moment I will remember you
And will know that you will be with me everywhere
In everytime and everylife
Of my human existence
Till we blend in love when comes the time of evanescence
I know that you are there
Without knowing yet my presence
But still having a glimpse of our approaching coexsitence
So you keep smiling as I d
With a mysterious hope in your heart
And a serene knowledge in your mind
That our journey will began soon
When the snowflakes will turn into butterflies…
all the best
Fu
Will i ever learn patience… most of the time i seem so eager to get it.
So it seems ..Blessings Tania
lol, and how much did he get paid for that bit of wisdom?
Kathleen xxoo
No matter where you are, as you learn to rise above your emotional reactions, gems of wisdom are waiting for you to notice the context and implications.
funny storry,I like it.was a sort of testing trust in the master, with the bonus of a moral.yes,early dissapointments can hinder us for living life to the full.
so true
love
Agnieszka
Ola Paulo,
lembro de ter lido essa passagem em algum livro seu, nao estou certo. Mas é uma coisa mto seria e verdadeira. Quando a gente parar de ter pena de gente mesmo, encarar nossos sonhos de frente, lutar para torna-los realidade vamos aprender que coisas que nos deixam desapontados, tristes, como a ingratidao de um amigo, o nao reconhecimento de um ato de bravura ou de coragem, etc, fazem parte do caminho, acho que para testar se estamos realmente aptos para seguir em frente em busca de nossos sonhos. Por exemplo, vc quer isso, ok, vamos ver se vc esta apto para ter, vc voce sabe lutar, se vc sabe vencer e, principalmente, se vc sabe perder, pq todo mundo esta preparado para a vitoria mas poucos estao preparados para a derrota… embora ela faça parte do bom combate!
um abraço
Saulo – Juiz de Fora (MG) Brasil
first i thought that was an “excuse” of being late..
but then he’s right!!!
I like this story !
Indeed,it is very important to be patient and overcome the early obstacles… But it is also very difficult. It is very difficult to meet an obstacle at the very beginning of the path and not get dissapointed…
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