The Outward and the Inward

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 A Sufi from Bokhara attracted large concourses of people, and his house was always full of disciples and pilgrims. Distressed by this activity and movement, one devout student left the city almost as soon as he had entered it in search of the sage, and made his way to the hut of a more solitary contemplative in Eastern Turkestan. When the two had sat in silent contemplation for a time, the mystic raised his head, having read his visitor's mind, and said:
'When you judge by externals, by appearances only, you will gain only superficialities. You disliked the outward appearance of the Sage of Bokhara, and therefore could not reach his inner aspect.'
'On the Final Day, if you are to be judged in similar fashion - on your outward form, why not prepare your own outwardness? You are soberly dressed; bedeck yourself with beads. Your robe is plain - make it an object of remark. Decorate and display yourself. Then you might at least be credited with being consistent.'

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✍ Idries Shah (Simla, British India, 16 June 1924 - London, United Kingdom, 23 November 1996).
◙ Horace Vernet
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Lo Externo y lo Interno 

 Un Sufí de Bucara atraía grandes grupos de personas y su casa estaba siempre llena de discípulos y peregrinos.
Afligido por ese trajín y movimiento, un estudiante devoto se marchó de la ciudad a poco de haber entrado en ella en busca del sabio y se encaminó a la choza de un contemplativo más solitario, en la parte oriental de Turquestán.
Después de que los dos estuvieron sentados en contemplación durante un rato, el místico levantó la cabeza, habiendo leído la mente del visitante, a quien dijo:
-Cuando juzgues por lo externo, por las apariencias solamente, obtendrás únicamente superficialidades. Te desagradó el aspecto externo del sabio de Bucara, y por lo tanto no pudiste percibir su aspecto interno. En el Día Final, si has de ser juzgado de la misma manera, por tu forma externa, ¿por qué no preparas tu propia exterioridad? Estás vestido sobriamente; adórnate con cuentas. Tu túnica es lisa; haz que sea motivo de observación. Decórate y luce. Entonces, por lo menos, se te podría reconocer el mérito de la coherencia.
 
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