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Sidharth Vardhan's Reviews > The Orchard: The Bostan Of Saadi Of Shiraz
The Orchard: The Bostan Of Saadi Of Shiraz
by
by
Travelers bring sugar-candy from Egypt as a present to their friends. Although I have no candy, yet have I words that are sweeter.
A sagacious youth of noble family landed at a seaport of Turkey, and, as he displayed piety add wisdom, his baggage was deposited in a mosque.
One day the priest said to him, “Sweep away the dust and rubbish from the mosque.�
Immediately, the young man went away and no one saw him there again. Thus, did the elder and his followers suppose he did not care to serve.
The next day, a servant of the mosque met him on the road and said, “Thou didst act wrongly in thy perverse judgment. Knowest thou not, O conceited youth, that men are dignified by service?�
Sorrow fully, the youth began to weep. “O soul-cherishing and heart-illuminating friend!� He answered, “I saw no dirt or rubbish in that holy place but mine own corrupt self. Therefore, I retraced my steps, for a mosque is better cleansed from such.�
Written in thirteenth century, the book is full of similar fables and words of wisdom written in verse. I had no intention of taking away fourth star despite the fact that Saadi is often boosting of his virtues, but towards the end - Saadi ridicules idol worshipers. I could tolerate even that, had Saadi not gone out of his way to do it. I love criticism of religions but only as long as it is not done to promote one at cost of other. Except those couple of pages, it is an awesome book.
A sagacious youth of noble family landed at a seaport of Turkey, and, as he displayed piety add wisdom, his baggage was deposited in a mosque.
One day the priest said to him, “Sweep away the dust and rubbish from the mosque.�
Immediately, the young man went away and no one saw him there again. Thus, did the elder and his followers suppose he did not care to serve.
The next day, a servant of the mosque met him on the road and said, “Thou didst act wrongly in thy perverse judgment. Knowest thou not, O conceited youth, that men are dignified by service?�
Sorrow fully, the youth began to weep. “O soul-cherishing and heart-illuminating friend!� He answered, “I saw no dirt or rubbish in that holy place but mine own corrupt self. Therefore, I retraced my steps, for a mosque is better cleansed from such.�
Written in thirteenth century, the book is full of similar fables and words of wisdom written in verse. I had no intention of taking away fourth star despite the fact that Saadi is often boosting of his virtues, but towards the end - Saadi ridicules idol worshipers. I could tolerate even that, had Saadi not gone out of his way to do it. I love criticism of religions but only as long as it is not done to promote one at cost of other. Except those couple of pages, it is an awesome book.
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Reading Progress
April 2, 2015
– Shelved
Started Reading
April 12, 2015
–
Finished Reading
