gods and prophets

[Guest guest]

In an effort to rule with an iron hand, the Ottoman Sultan Murat

earned the distinction of being the first sultan to order the

execution of a sheikh-al-Islam (the highest religious authority in

the Islamic world back then). Despite his addiction to alcohol, he

banned alcohol and smoking. With his Vezir (chief of staff), dressed

as merchants, he'd sometimes mix into the crowds to check how his

strict anti-drinking laws were being obeyed. The Ottoman capital city

of Istanbul is built on two continents. The Vezir and Sultan hired a

boatman to cross the bosphorus, the channel that separates the

continental Europe from Asia. The boatman, who happened to be the

infamous drunk Bekri stopped the boat halfway. He pulled out an

oversized wine bottle and offered it to his customers. The small boat

was rocking with the swift currents. Out of politeness or fear the

Sultan and the Vezir took a sip. The hospitable boatman offered them

more wine. The Sultan remained silent and the Vezir refused. When the

boatman insisted, the Vezir became very impatient and said, " Do you

know who you're dealing with here? This is the Sultan Murat, the

shadow of God and I'm his Vezir, you fool! "

The boatman slapped Vezir on the spot and said, " I'm not giving you

guys more wine. You only took one sip and you think you're the Vezir

and the Sultan. I'm afraid if you had more to drink, you'll claim

you're the prophet and God himself. "

 

hur

 

ps. in an ironic twist of fate, sultan murat died from overdrinking.

by the way, this story is not a cut & paste. these type of boatman

stories are common in the east when there were not very many bridges

and people depended on boatman to cross waterways. it's also symbolic

since the boatman is us, crossing the chasm of fire. on our journey

we come across some who believe they're the dualistic prophets or

nondual gods.