The sheikh of the Halveti order in Istanbul, Sunbul Efendi, in looking
for a successor, sent his disciples forth to get flowers to adorn the
lodge. All of them returned with large bunches of lovely flowers; only
one of them came back with a small, withered plant. When asked why he
did not bring anything worthy of his master, he answered, "I found all
the flowers busy recollecting the Lord--how could I interrupt this
constant prayer of theirs? I looked, and one flower had finished its
recollection. That one I brought." It was he who became the next
sheikh.
Annemarie Schimmel
as collected by James Fadiman & Robert Frager
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