THE QUALITIES OF THE GNOSTICS

Knowledge is keeping information in memory.

Wisdom is being able to tell benefit from harm.

One who gathers knowledge is a scholar.

One who gathers wisdom is a sage.

But one who knows how to apply knowledge and wisdom in their proper place is a gnostic.

One who always keeps God in remembrance and feels God’s gaze upon him is a knower of God.

The main work of a knower of God consists of patience with the ignorant.

What does patience with the ignorant look like?

Someone talks about what he does not know. You stay silent.

Someone slanders you. You stay silent.

Someone tells lies. You stay silent.

Someone backbites. You get up and leave.

Someone raises his voice. You stay silent.

Someone is rude. You stay silent.

You walk with your eyes on the ground. You smile at every person.

You do not keep putting your feelings on display.

You walk unhurriedly, gently.

You give no advice to anyone but your own people. Your people are your family, your children, the relatives over whom you have standing, your very close friends and, if you have them, your most trustworthy students.

The firmest truth is that people do not accept advice. Do not wear yourself out trying to tell them the truth; by telling them the truth you will stir up the evil sleeping in their hearts.

The greatest condition... you keep saying in your heart, Allah, Allah, Allah.

Your life will not remain unchanged.