Wisdom from Sufi Folklore

I recall a classic Sufi parable about a man walking home late one night. He saw his neighbor, Mulla, anxiously crawling around on all fours, frantically searching for something on the ground under a streetlight.

“What are you looking for, Mulla?” the man asked.

“I’m looking for my lost key,” Mulla replied.

Without further thought, the man dropped to his knees and joined Mulla in his search. After some time and with no success, the man finally decided to ask, “Mulla, where exactly did you drop the key?”

Without looking up from his search, he waved into the darkness and replied, “I dropped it somewhere in my house.” Perplexed by Mulla’s answer, he jumped up and shouted, “Then why are you searching out here under the streetlight?”

To the man’s shock, Mulla casually replied, “Because this is where the light is.”

How often do we find ourselves looking to make sense of our lives; looking in the easiest, most accessible, or well-lit places? And yet, we know the answers we seek require real work by searching the darker, more complex areas of our lives. In today’s fast-paced world, where many of us are addicted to immediate gratification, we act before reflecting; diving into surface-level solutions without fully understanding the problem or its origin.

This story reminds us that true wisdom requires deeper reflection and a willingness to return to the source of our problem—our story.

Let Ancient Wisdom Flow

Shamanism:
Looking back, we find that ancient communities were guided by Shamans who accessed wisdom through deep connections with nature and the unseen. Wisdom’s mysterious nature demanded patience as we practiced rituals that led us on spiritual quests focused on healing individuals and the whole community.

Hinduism:
The spiritual roots of Hinduism teach us that wisdom comes through a willingness to dive deep into one’s soul, seeking alignment with one’s “cosmic responsibility” (aka. one’s Dharma). There were no easy answers to the deeper truths creation holds, and finding answers requires one to stand humbly before the fullness of life’s grandeur and the unity of all things.

Judaism:
Ancient Judaism, grounded in wisdom, reflected how one sought to integrate oneself into the righteousness of YHWH (Yahweh, name for the God of the Israelites). These ancient elders provided guidance based on careful thought and study. Wisdom was more than the intellectual pursuit of knowledge; rather, it was practical for daily living, much like the reflective search required in the Sufi parable.

Christianity:
Ancient Christianity continued this tradition focused on the principles of humility and service to wisdom. Elders modeled patience and compassion, which they sought to multiply among those who sought to understand life’s ups and downs amidst suffering and persecution. Wisdom was seen as peaceable, reasonable, reflective, and filtered through love before any action was taken.

Stoicism:
Focused on emotional discipline and resilience, Stoicism’s teachings encouraged their students to avoid impulsive reactivity in exchange for empathy and thoughtful responses. Marcus Aurelius’ famous line, “memento mori” —remember you will die— drove much of this wisdom from a place of humility in this shared fate. Stoic wisdom demands reflection, not reaction. It is understood that much of life is beyond our control, and it is our collective responsibility to carry the burden of this shared reality with kindness.

Buddhism:
Like many of these ancient wisdom traditions, Buddhists believed that wisdom found its power in one’s ability to detach from illusions and accept the reality of their impermanence. True wisdom, even enlightenment, may be accessed through deep reflection, meditation, and mindfulness, not seeking easy or obvious solutions.

The Loss of Wisdom in our Modern World

With the rapid technological advances and the constant pursuit of efficiency, productivity, and profitability, I can’t help but wonder if we are aware of how this progress has often diluted or even lost the rich wisdom of these ancient traditions. Worse, we have lost our ability to be reflective in a world more interested in projecting an image of what we wish to be seen rather than the truth that lies under the surface of our reality.

The political, cultural, and religious voices that vie for our attention all too often bend these traditions to serve their own individualistic, party agenda, or dogmatic influence, usually distorting their core values. We often throw the baby out with the bathwater, discarding the deep wisdom these traditions offer in favor of more convenient or self-serving outcomes. This results in the loss of the reflective, patient approach to life that seeks the highest good for all involved, which is central to these ancient wisdom teachings.

The rise of individualism and a fast-paced, reactionary culture has further contributed to this erosion. Gone are the days when news outlets reported the news with a commitment to the truth. These are the days of social media, cancellation culture, and fake news resulting from an inability to discern truth amidst an information overload. Now, we demand immediate responses and instant opinions, favoring visibility and speed over depth, thoughtfulness, and, dare we say, truth. As a result, much of the wisdom that once guided communities has been overshadowed by the need for immediate gratification and surface-level solutions.

Where Have Our Elders Gone?

In the past, elders were the custodians of this wisdom, guiding their communities with the long-term perspective that comes only with age and experience. Today, the term “elder” seems to be something we avoid as uncool and irrelevant. In its place, the focus has now shifted to youth-driven movements that emphasize the moving target of conformity, wokeism, and a disregard for any ideology that stands in the way of self-expression.

On one hand, this is not a new phenomenon. Youth is the source of innovation and an evolving humanity. This is an essential part of the energy and passion that youth bring into our world. Yet, without the wisdom of experience, we risk intentional, thoughtful, and sustainable pathways to change that incorporate the historical complexities of life.

Like attendees of the Roman gladiator games, we are all too quick to turn our thumbs down to those we disagree with, see as finished, washed up, or no longer able to entertain our carnal thirst for blood.

A Revolution of Conscious Eldering

I can imagine all the elders reading this, nodding their heads in approval, while a younger reader might be struggling with feelings of insecurity or offense. In both cases, however, the point may be missed. We are all responsible for the experiences of those who have come before; to honor their experience, learn from what has benefitted us, and grow from what has not.

Today, I hope to call us all up to an ancient standard of life. I believe it’s time to re-embrace the role of our elders—one rooted in ancient wisdom but urgently needed in today’s world. Today, as Schacter-Shalomi and Miller call it in their book From Age-ing to Sage-ing, we need a rise of “Conscious Eldering.” Like all of the ancient wisdom teachings mentioned, true wisdom doesn’t come from quick reactions or youthful zeal but from reflection, patience, and the courage to explore brutal truths.

To participate in this rise of Conscious Eldering, our role is to help future generations recognize that real answers don’t lie where the light is brightest but in the dark places, where wisdom has often been lost or forgotten. Doing this requires those riding the tailcoats of our elders to humbly open themselves up to the question from our Sufi story: If true wisdom is housed in the recesses of the dark rooms of forgotten history, “Then why are you searching out here under the streetlight” of a woke tech age where wisdom will not be found until it is unveiled where it was actually lost? Then, in humility, patience, and fearless pursuit of the highest good for all humanity, we may reap the rewards of our advancements.  

In an information age, it’s easy to believe knowledge reigns supreme. But, knowledge without experience lacks an awareness of life’s cyclical reality. Progress is really progress when knowledge rooted in experience allows wisdom to be the guiding force of life.

Today, it’s time for an elder revolution. It’s time to level up the midlife and retirement transitions, which are too often focused on the band aids of fancy sports cars, luxurious vacations, and other materialistic pursuits. It’s time to raise up Conscious Eldering practices that enhance our life experiences. It’s a time to step forward, not back, illuminating the path ahead and showing others the beauty that comes when we can balance the energy of our youth with the insight and awareness of wisdom. Here, our shared life experience may grow into a long-term vision that ensures sustainable and impactful change in service to the greater good of humanity.

As we embrace this role with humility and curiosity, we might open deeper relationships with the next generation, unlocking deeper, more profound truths underlying real progress. Conscious Eldering is not just every person’s responsibility as they navigate the transitions we all face in aging. It is an opportunity to restore wisdom in a world where we desperately need to move from “age-ing to sage-ing.”

Shining Light in the Dark Places

As our new friend, Mulla, reminds us, the lost key of wisdom is not found in conveniently lit places. Often, it is in the dark, painful, though sometimes beautiful memories and stories born from experience; where the wisdom of our experiences awaits revelation. As Conscious Elders, our task is to shine the light of our stories in the dark corners where wisdom has been lost and even forgotten. Then, like our ancient ancestors, we can help guide all generations back to where the real keys to life’s mysteries lie.

Final Thought on True Wisdom

As Marcus Aurelius reminds us, “All men are made one for another: either then teach them better or bear with them.” Wisdom requires a commitment to truth and, perhaps more importantly, the patience to love those who choose the easy answers in a sold-out culture. Our role as elders is to stay committed to the search, offer the light of patience, and guide others back to where wisdom continues to reside.

Join the Conscious Elder Movement

Discover how to unlock the deeper wisdom your story has to offer. Email us today at [email protected] and schedule your Life Repurposed Introductory Call TODAY! Together, we’ll turn retirement into a journey of legacy and service, grounding your future in meaningful choices that will echo across generations.

Les McDaniel
Chief Purpose Officer & Certified Retirement Coach
Howard Bailey Financial
[email protected]

Learn more about ways you can navigate life's many transitions with our Howard Bailey Coaching Community offerings found at www.howardbailey.com/coaching. Schedule a Life Repurposed Call with Les McDaniel, Howard Bailey's Chief Purpose Officer. Investment Advisory Services may be offered through Howard Bailey Securities, LLC, a registered investment adviser. Working with Howard Bailey Securities, LLC, cannot guarantee investment success or that specific financial goals will be achieved. ©2024 HOWARD BAILEY FINANCIAL, INC.