Sufi Stories

The substance of Sufism is the Truth and the meaning of Sufism is the selfless experience and actualization of the Truth. The practice of Sufism is the intention to go towards the Truth, by means of love and devotion. This is called the tarikat, the spiritual path or way towards God. The sufi is one who is a true lover and true believer  who by means of love and devotion moves towards the Truth, towards the perfection which all are truly seeking. 
Sufis have referred to their parables as "Teaching Stories." 
According to Essential Sufism, "most Sufis believe that the great religions and mystical
traditions for the world share the same essential Truth." Sufi teaching stories have been 
used by the mystics and spiritual teachers(masters) to help people understand the same essential Truth.

Sufi stories are always my favorite. I personally learn a lot and its keep inspiring me throughout my life journey. Here i am sharing few them.  

When to be Practical  

As three travelers crossed the mountains of the Himalaya, they discussed the importance of putting into practice everything they had learned on their spiritual journey . They weer so lost in their conversation that it was only late night that they finally realized that all they had with them was  just a piece of bread.

They decided not to discuss who deserved to eat it rather they left the decision in the hands of the god. They prayed that, during the night  a superior spirit should indicate who should receive the bread.

The following morning, the three men rose together at sunrise.

"This is my dream," said the first traveler. "I was taken to place I had never visited before, and enjoyed the sort of peace and harmony . In the midst of this paradise, a wise man with a long beard said to me: "you are my chosen one, you never sought pleasure, always renounced all things and in order to prove my allegiance to you, I should like you to try a piece of bread."

"That's very strange," said the second traveler. "For in my dream, I saw my past of sanctity and my future as a master. As I gazed at that which is to come, I found a man of great wisdom, saying: "You are in greater need of food than your friends  for you shall have to lead many people and it will require strength and energy so eat the bread."

Then the third traveler said:

"In my dream I saw nothing and went nowhere and found no wise men, poor me. However, at a certain hour during the night, I suddenly woke up And I ate the bread."

By hearing this other two get furious.

"Come on brother why didn't you call us before making such a personal decision?"

In reply he said  "How could I? You were both so far away, finding masters and having such holy visions! Yesterday we discussed the importance of putting into practice that which we learn on our spiritual journey. In my case, God acted quickly and make me awake dying of hunger!"  "LOL"

Something is Better Than Nothing

Once a Sufi master was walking down the street. On his way he found a miserable man sited down the corner of the street. Seeing master the man held up a tattered bag and moaned, "All that I own in this wide world barely fills this miserable, wretched sack, please help me"

"Too bad," said the master and with that, he suddenly snatched the bag from the man's hands and ran down the road with it.

Having lost everything, the man burst into tears and more miserable than before he start to walked alone the path. Meanwhile master quickly ran around  and placed the man's sack in the middle of the road where he would have to come upon it.

When the man finally saw his bag sitting in the road before him, he laughed with joy and shouted,  " Oh my god! My sack! I thought I'd lost you! I feel so happy now".

Watching through the bushes, Master chuckled. "Well, that's one way to make someone happy!"  "LOL"