Discourses of Rumi

412 V DISCOURSES OF RUMIHence, it is the benefit gained that is the trueobjective. With some people it is best not to hearany words at all—it is enough for them to see.That is what profits them most, and if they hearany words it actually harms them.A certain Sheikh from India came to visit agreat saint. When he reached Tabriz and came tothe door of the saint’s cell, he heard a voice fromwithin saying, “Return home! For you haveattained your need in coming to this door. To seethe saint would harm you.”A few words that convey a lesson are like a litlamp that kisses an unlit lamp and then departs.That was enough for him, he had attained hispurpose. After all, the prophet is not that visibleform, that form is only the steed of the prophet.The prophet is that Divine love and affection thatis immortal.Someone asked: “Then why don’t they onlypraise God upon the minaret? Why do they alsomention Mohammed?”Rumi answered: Well, praising Mohammed ispraising God. It is like saying, “Long live theking, and long live that friend who led me to the