The story of pilgrimage of Bayezid-i Bestami
“Bayezid-i Bestami has a famous story. While tutoring his students one day, the squire of the village came over to him and asked with a sarcastic tone in his voice, ‘Aren’t you going on a pilgrimage this year?’ No one answered him, so the squire kept talking, ‘I’m going on pilgrimage for the fifth time,’ he said, wanting to brag and show his superiority. ‘Shall I bring something for you from there?’ he asked in a mocking tone. ‘Why are you going on a pilgrimage?’ asked Bayezid-i Bestami. ‘It is the same thing, even if you have done it seven more times.’
The squire became very angry. “Mister,” he said, raising his voice.
“Do you know what you’re talking about? This is blasphemy.”
Bayezid-i Bestami responded to the squire in a very calm manner. “Ever since that building was established, Allah hasn’t been inside it even once. Allah has never come out of this poor person’s heart.” “Very nice. What a beautiful story,” Azra said, sighing deeply. Her previous exasperation had cooled down.
“Hacı Bektaş Veli summarized this story in a wonderful quatrain. It goes like this.”
The redness is on the fire, not on the plate.
The dervish is in the head, not in the crown. Whatever you look for, look at yourself
Not in Jerusalem, not in Mecca, not in pilgrimage.
(from Hakan Mengüç // No Encounter is By Chance)
