A sagacious youth of noble family landed at a seaport of Turkey, and, as he displayed piety and wisdom, his baggage was deposited in a mosque. One day the priest said to him: “Sweep away the dust and rubbish from the mosque.” Immediately, the young man went away and no one saw him there again. Thus, did the elder and his followers suppose he did not care to serve. The next day, a servant of the mosque met him on the road and said: “Thou didst act wrongly in thy perverse judgment. Knowest thou not, O conceited youth, that men are dignified by service?” Sorrowfully, the youth began to weep. “O soul-cherishing and heart-illuminating friend!” he answered; “I saw no dirt or rubbish in that holy place but mine own corrupt self. Therefore, I retraced my steps, for a mosque is better cleansed from such.” Humility is the only ritual for a devotee. If thou desire greatness, be humble; no other ladder is there by which to climb. STORY OF SULTAN BĀYAZĪD BUSTĀMI[21] When Bāyazīd was coming from his bath one morning during the Id festival, some one unwittingly emptied a tray of ashes from a window upon his head. With his face and turban all bespattered, he rubbed his hands in gratitude and said: “I am in truth worthy of the fires of hell; why should I be angered by a few ashes?” The great do not regard themselves; look not for godliness in a self-conceited man. Eminence does not consist in outward show and vaunting words, nor dignity in hauteur and pretension. On the Day of Judgment thou wilt see in Paradise him who sought truth and rejected vain pretension. He who is headstrong and obdurate falleth headlong; if thou desire greatness, abandon pride. DISCOURSE ON CONCEIT Expect not him who is possessed of worldly vanities to follow the path of religion, nor look for godliness in him who wallows in conceit. If thou desire dignity, do not, like the mean, regard thy fellows with contemptuous eyes. Seek no position more honourable than that of being known to the world as a man of laudable character. Thou deemest him not great who, being of equal rank, is haughty towards thee; when thou makest a similar display before others, dost thou not appear before them as the arrogant appear before thee? If thou art eminent, laugh not, if thou art wise, at them that are lowly. Many have fallen from high whose places have been taken by the fallen. Though thou be free from defect, revile not me who am full of blemishes. One holds the chain of the Kába temple in his hands; another lies drunken in the tavern. If God call the latter, who can drive him away? If He expel the former, who can bring him back? The one cannot implore the divine help by reason of his good deeds, nor is the door of repentance closed upon the other. STORY OF THE DARWESH AND THE PROUD CĀDI