|
Haci Bektaþ Veli. In a time of
famine the young Yunus went to the Turkish lodge
of the celebrated mystic Haci Bektaþ
Veli to ask for wheat for his village. He did
not want to arrive empty-handed, and on the
way gathered wild medlars as a gift for Haci
Bektaþ Veli, who was moved by this gesture.
He invited Yunus to join their community, saying,
'Would you rather have wheat or the favour of
saints?' 'Wheat,' Yunus replied. Haci
Bektaþ Veli persisted, this time saying,
'Let us give breath to each of those medlars,
and grace to each of their stones.' But Yunus
was adamant, and loading up the wheat given
by the dervishes he departed. However, on his
way home he began to regret his decision. 'What
have I done?' he said to himself. 'Wheat is
consumed, leaving nothing behind, but grace
is a lifelong blessing.' He turned round and
went back to the lodge, but he was too late;
the key to grace had been given to Tapduk Emre.
The dervishes told him to go to the lodge of
Tapduk to seek grace there. In this way began
Yunus Emre's novitiate, which lasted 40 years.
During the period he spent with Tapduk Emre,
he chopped
|
