' Flowers '...

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