Discourses of Rumi

272 V DISCOURSES OF RUMIself and to let the world be is also from God.This is like the story of a boy who shook downapricots from a tree and ate them. The owner ofthe orchard caught him and said, “Aren’t youafraid of God’s punishment?” The boy said,“Why should I be afraid? The tree belongs toGod, and I am God’s servant. God’s servant ateGod’s fruit!” The owner said, “Wait and see whatanswer I shall give you. Fetch a rope, tie him tothis tree and beat him until the answer is madeclear!” The boy said, “Aren’t you afraid of God’spunishment?” The owner answered, “Whyshould I be afraid? You are God’s servant, andthis is God’s stick. I am beating God’s servantwith God’s stick!”The moral is that this world is like an echo—whatever you say, whether good or evil, you hearthe same from the mountain. If you think, “Ispoke beautifully and the mountain gave an uglyanswer,” this is impossible. When the nightingalesings in the mountain, does the mountain returnthe voice of a raven or a donkey? Know for certainthen that you have spoken like a donkey!