Discussion is for those who say, “What I say is right, and what you say is wrong.” A sage never says such a thing; hence there is no discussion.
Hazrat Pir-o-Murshid Inayat Khan
Related Material by Pir-o-Murshid Inayat Khan
Compiled by Wahiduddin Richard Shelquist – wahiduddin.net
Once I was with a sage whom many people went to see. He pleased them all, and he was not fond of disputing or discussing, because to a sage there is nothing to discuss. Discussion is for those who say, ‘What I say is right, and what you say is wrong.’ A sage never says such a thing; hence there is no discussion. But the world is always fighting and discussing and disputing.
Many would come and try to dispute with him, but he did his best to avoid dispute. I was very fond of listening to his way of dealing with inquirers. My friends wanted to discuss what the ideal life is. He said, ‘Whatever you think it is.’ But my friends were not satisfied with this. They wanted a discussion. They answered, ‘Do you think this worldly life, with so many responsibilities, with strife from morning to evening, can be the ideal life?’ He said, ‘Yes.’ They asked, ‘Do you not think that the life you lead, retirement and seclusion, is the ideal life?’ He answered, ‘Yes.’ They said, ‘But how can we give up our present life, our responsibilities to our children, our occupations, and all these things that take up so much time. How can we leave that life in order to follow your ideal life?’ He said, ‘Do not leave it.’
They went on, ‘But, if we do not leave it, how can we get on in the spiritual life?’ Then the sage asked, ‘What do you mean by the spiritual life?’ ‘We mean by spiritual life a life like yours,’ they answered. He said, ‘If you think my life is a spiritual life, be like me. If you think your life is a spiritual life, keep to it. It is not possible to say which life is best. If you think your worldly strife brings you happiness, just keep to it. If you think my life gives you happiness, give up your own. Whatever makes you happy and makes you think you are doing right, do it from that moment, and see what the result is. If it gives you more happiness, go on regardless of what others say. If it gives you happiness, if you are satisfied while doing it, while reaping its effect, then it is all right. Go on with it, and you will always be blessed.’
( from the Sufi Message Series, Volume VII – In an Eastern Rose Garden: The Ideal Life )
People discuss dogmas, beliefs, and moral principles, as they know them. But there comes a time in Life when one has touched truth of which one cannot speak in words; and at that time all dispute, discussion, argument ends.
Commentary by Murshid S.A.M. (Sufi Ahmed Murad)
Samuel L. Lewis
Discussion is an activity of the discriminating mind; it is the offspring of nufs. Not even the Prophets discuss when they denounce or arraign. They may utter a diatribe but they do not argue. There are but two courses: to stand firm to the point of view of God, knowing it is the point of view of God or to reconcile so far as possible to the point of view of another without antagonizing the other. This last is the common action of the seer especially in dealing with an individual, no matter how wicked. The former should only be used in a general way to move the masses of humanity in time of great peril.
The fact is that the “you” is always wrong: I-ness and my-ness and you-ness and your-ness constitute the essence — if such it can be called — of what is wrong; it is the very nucleus of evil. But when one serves God one strives to lead others toward God, which is best done in a spirit of love and harmony. To criticize or admonish another to prove that one is right is never the habit of the Sufi.