Umi:  Someone came to the Sufi Mystic Bayazid and said, \"Will you teach me?\" And Bayazid replied, \"Will you allow me to teach you?\"  Because what in fact is happening when somebody says, \"Will you teach me?\" What they are really saying is, \"Will you teach me what I believe I want to be taught? What I believe I want to be taught?\" In other words, \"Will you support my concepts?\" \"Will you give me what I dream of, what I imagine?\" And that's not what this is about. Because that which you imagine, is what it is, it's imagining.  It's a creation of your mind and there are six billion creation on this planet.  They're all different and none of them are the truth. So the Master asks back, \"Will you allow me?\"  Because only when you are ready to say, \"Yes I will allow you.\"  and you are ready to be totally open and let go of your opinions, your concepts, your judgments, only then can anything begin.  Only then can the teaching begin.  But first you need to be open.  

First you need to be ready to let go of all your sacred concepts, all that you believe is important.  You need to be ready to be a clean slate.  Because until you are open there can be no real acceptance.  This is about accepting all.  Even the insane world.  Even though the world is insane, it is perfect. 

This is how it is.  Being open to accepting all, is the first step.  Any concept of how the world should be, creates a lot of suffering.  When you totally accept the insanity, then life is easy.  Then you can begin on your self.  Then you are ready for the Master.  Then you are ready to say, \"Yes, Master I will allow you to teach me.\"  Then the Master will take you into your interior, into your heart, into your Truth and into the Bliss that is Who You Are.

Love Umi