A disciple went to the house of Sufi physician and asked to become an apprentice in the art of medicine. “You are impatient,” said the doctor, “and so you will fail to observe things which you will need to learn.” But the young man pleaded and the Sufi agreed to accept him.
After some years the youth felt that he could exercise some of the skills which he had learned. One day a man was walking towards the house and the doctor looking at him from a distance said, “That man is ill, he needs pomegranates.”
“You have made the diagnosis let me prescribe for him and I will have done half the work,” said the student. “Very well,” said the teacher, “providing that you remember that action should also be looked at as illustration.” As soon as the patient arrived at the doorstep the student brought him in and said ” You are ill, take pomegranates.” Pomegranates!!!”” shouted the patient, “pomegranates to you! Nonsense!!!” And he went away. The young man asked his master what the meaning of the interchange had been. “I will illustrate it the next time we get a similar case,” said the Sufi.
Shortly afterwards the two were sitting outside the house when the master looked up briefly and saw a man approaching. “Ahh, here’s an illustration for you: a man who needs pomegranates,”” he said. The patient was brought in and the doctor said to him, “Ahh yes you are a difficult and intricate case I can see that. Let me see. Yes you need a special diet. This must be composed of something round, small sacs in it naturally occurring. An orange—no that would be the wrong color. Lemons—they’re too acid. I HAVE IT !!!!! Pomegranates.” The patient went away delighted and grateful. “But master,”” said the student, “why did you not say pomegranates straight away?” “Because,” said the Sufi, “he needed time as well as pomegranates.
—told by Idries Shah
