Sufism, Vol. 1 Sufis: The People Of The Path Chapter 4: Love Cannot Deliver the Goods, Question 5

Question 5

WHY DID GURDJIEFF USE TO SAY THAT IF YOU WANT TO GET RID OF RELIGION LIVE CLOSE TO A PRIEST?

It is simple. The priest remains significant only if you don't know his heart, if you don't know his reality. If you start knowing his reality you will be surprised: the priest is the last person to believe in religion. He never believes, he only pretends. It is his profession to believe. The priest is the only person who knows that God does not exist, but he cannot say it because his whole business depends on it. It is his trade secret. Gurdjieff is right.

You listen to a few stories. That will do!

A member of the Catholic Church approached her priest and said, 'Father, my dog died, and I want to know if you think it is all right to have a funeral for him.'

The priest said, 'Yes, I think it's all right, if you desire one.'

'And who do you think would be a good minister to conduct it?'

The priest wasn't too happy with the thought of this funeral, so he said, 'I know a good Presbyterian minister down the street. I believe he will conduct it for you.'

'Oh, thank you, Father, and just one more question. How much do you think I should pay him for it -- two hundred dollars or three hundred dollars?'

The priest's eyes lit up, and as he slipped his arm around his parishioner, he said, 'Why, my friend, why didn't you say it was a Catholic dog?'

And another...

A Baptist Deacon had advertised a cow for sale.

'How much are you asking for it" enquired a prospective purchaser.

'A hundred and fifty dollars,' said the advertiser.

'And how much milk does she give?'

'Four gallons a day,' he replied.

'But how do I know that she will actually give that amount?' asked the purchaser.

'Oh, you can trust me,' reassured the advertiser. 'I'm a Baptist Deacon.'

'I'll buy it,' replied the other. 'I'll take the cow home and bring you the money later. You can trust me. I'm a Presbyterian Elder.'

When the Deacon arrived home he asked his wife, 'What is a Presbyterian Elder?'

'Oh,' she explained, 'a Presbyterian Elder is about the same as a Baptist Deacon.'

'Oh dear!' groaned the Deacon, 'I have lost my cow!'

Gurdjieff is right. If you want to remain religious in the old sense, never go close to a priest, it is better to keep away. If you really want to become religious then it is very good to go and watch a priest as closely as possible. That will show you the reality of the so-called priests and the reality of their so-called religions. That will annihilate Mohammedanism, Christianity, Judaism, Hinduism, in your mind.

And then for the first time you will enquire, you will start enquiring what true religion is -- beyond the dogmas and the churches and the creeds, beyond the conflicts, beyond the theologies. You will start enquiring what true God is.

And that makes a man a Sufi or a Zen seeker or a Hassid.

Sufism

VOL. 1, SUFIS: THE PEOPLE OF THE PATH

Chapter-4

Love Cannot Deliver the Goods