17/09/2020
Let me tell you one very famous Sufi story, βThe Holy Shadow.β There once lived a saint so good that the angels came from heaven to see how a man could be so godly. This saint went about his daily life diffusing virtue as the stars diffuse light and the flowers scent, without being aware of it. His day could be summed up by two words β he gave, he forgave β yet these words never passed his lips. They were expressed in his ready smile, his kindness, forbearance, and charity.
The angels said to God, βLord, grant him the gift of miracles.β
God replied, βAsk what it is that he wishes.β
They said to the saint, βWould you like the touch of your hands to heal the sick?β
βNo,β answered the saint. βI would rather God do that.β
βWould you like to convert guilty souls and bring back wandering hearts to the right path?β
βNo, that is the angelsβ mission. It is not for me to convert.β
βWould you like to become a model of patience, attracting men by the luster of your virtues, and thus glorifying God?β
βNo,β replied the saint. βIf men should be attracted to me, they would become estranged from God.β βWhat is it that you desire, then?β asked the angels.
βWhat can I wish for?β asked the saint smiling. βThat God gives me his grace; with that would I not have everything?β
The angels said, βYou must ask for a miracle, or one will be forced upon you.β
βVery well,β said the saint. βThat I may do a great deal of good without ever knowing it.β
The angels were perplexed. They took counsel and resolved upon the following plan: every time the saintβs shadow fell behind him or to either side, so that he could not see it, it would have the power to cure disease, soothe pain, and comfort sorrow.
When the saint walked along, his shadow, thrown on the ground on either side or behind him, made arid paths green, caused withered plants to bloom, gave clear water to dried-up brooks, fresh color to pale children, and joy to unhappy men and women.
The saint simply went about his daily life diffusing virtue as the stars diffuse light and the flowers scent, without being aware of it. The people, respecting his humility, followed him silently, never speaking to him about his miracles. Soon they even forgot his name, and called him βThe Holy Shadow.β
This is the ultimate: one has to become the holy shadow, just a shadow of God. This is the greatest revolution that can happen to a human being: the transfer of the center. You are no longer your own center; God becomes your center. You live like his shadow. You are not powerful, because you donβt have any center to be powerful. You are not virtuous; you donβt have any center to be virtuous. You are not even religious; you donβt have any center to be religious. You are simply not, a tremendous emptiness, with no barriers and blocks, so the divine can flow through you unhindered, uninterpreted, untouched β so the divine can flow through you as he is, not as you would like him to be. He does not pass through your center β there is none. The center is lost.
Inspirational Stories
This is the meaning of this sutra: that finally you have to sacrifice your center so you cannot think in terms of the ego again, you cannot utter βI,β to annihilate yourself utterly, to erase yourself utterly. Nothing belongs to you; on the contrary, you belong to God. You become a holy shadow.
