Discourses of Rumi

discourse 27It is better not to question what Sufis say, sincethis obliges them to invent a lie. For if a materialistquestions a Sufi, the Sufi must give someanswer. But how can they be completely truthfulwith someone incapable of understanding? Thematerialist’s mouth and lips are not able to receivesuch a delicate morsel. So the Sufi must answerpeople according to their capacity and experience,namely by inventing an answer that sends themaway.Although everything the Sufi gives out is trueand cannot be a lie, yet the first thing a Sufi saysis far greater. If this is questioned, then what goodis answering with more truth? Even still, the liegiven by the Sufi is good for the materialist, andmore than right.A certain dervish had a disciple who used tobeg for him. One day out of what they gainedfrom their begging, the disciple brought somefood to their master. The dervish ate the food.