Discourses of Rumi

328 V DISCOURSES OF RUMIGod said, “O Abu Yazid, not even on the night ofthe milk? You said one night, ‘This milk has doneme harm.’ It is I who create all harm and benefit.”Abu Yazid had seen the secondary causes as separatefrom God, so God showed him up as abeliever in many causes and said, “It is I whoharmed you, after the milk and before the milk. Imade that milk so you would sin, and I made thatharm as a correction to teach you, like a teacher’spunishment.”When a teacher says, “Don’t eat the fruit,” ifthe students eat it, and the teacher beats them onthe soles of their feet, it is not right for the pupilsto say, “We ate the fruit and it hurt our feet.” Inthe same way, whoever refuses to acknowledgethat all things are partners to God, God usesingratitude to cleanse their spirit from the weedsof believing in many causes. A little with God ismuch.The difference between giving praise and givingthanks is that thanks are given for benefits wereceive. No one says, “I give thanks for that person’sbeauty and bravery.” Praise giving is lesspersonal.