The Parable of Avicenna and the Apprentice
“Avicenna had a very diligent, newly-initiated student. One day, a blind man was brought to the great physician. The Master specified exactly which components to mix to create two poultices. The student followed the instructions perfectly, and the next day, the patient regained his sight.
Now, the student’s neighbor was also blind. Inspired by his success, the student prepared two identical poultices and applied them to his neighbor’s eyes. By the next day, the blind man’s eyes had completely dissolved.
The ‘conscientious idiot’ ran to his Master in tears: — ‘How can this be, Master? I did exactly as you told me last time! Why did this happen?’
Deeply saddened, the Sage replied: — ‘Blindness has many different causes: dryness of the organism, humidity, heat, cold, and so on. A thousand blind men are blind for a thousand different reasons. Go, my son. You are only fit to work as a baker.'”
