Nasrudin Quotes & Sayings

A man called, wanting to borrow a rope. "You cannot have it," said Nasrudin. "Why not?" "Because it is in use." "But I can see it just lying there, on the ground." "That's right: that's its use. — Nasreddin

A modern story of Mullah Nasrudin, the Sufi teacher and holy fool, tells of him entering a bank and trying to cash a check. The teller asks him to please identify himself. Nasrudin reaches in his pocket and pulls out a small mirror. Looking into it, he says, "Yep, that's me all right." Meditation — Jack Kornfield

Learning how to learn involves examining assumptions. Mulla Nasrudin tales very often fulfil this funcition. — Idries Shah

Saying of the Mulla Nasrudin. If I survive this life without dying, I'll be surprised. — Idries Shah

It is true that he has no eyes or limbs and you are fortunate to have all of them,' agreed Nasrudin, 'and yet you won't earn half as much if you sit beside him and beg. — Sam Elcot

A Nasrudin 'joke' may at first seem unfunny, or pointless, but will after study change and begin to reveal itself: you have uncovered the first level of meaning, and will soon observe your thought patterns shift as you watch them; you will have made the first crack in the wall of assumptions, the conditioned thinking (designated 'The Old Villain') which imprisons each and every one of us, the worst of which is to think that the visible world is all there is, that a man's or a mouse's view of life is the true one. — Doris Lessing

A Better Beard that Yours. 'All true devotees wear a beard,' said the Imam to his audience. 'Show me a thick and lustrous beard and I'll show you a true believer!' 'My goat has a beard far bushier and longer than yours,' replied Nasrudin. 'Does that mean he is a better Muslim than you? — Idries Shah

A Lesson Nasrudin was teaching his son life lessons. "Never give anybody anything immediately," he said. "Wait until at least a couple of days have gone by." "But why?" his son inquired. "Because," Nasrudin responded, "people appreciate receiving something much more if they first have to doubt whether or not they will actually get it! — Rodney Ohebsion