The three-gated word check applied to a poem as it is coming into existence
I
Is it true?
No.
II
Is it necessary?
Probably not.
III
Is it kind?
Definitely not.
– Leonard Blumfeld (© 2014)
Written in response to a sufi saying encountered on the Internet:
Before you speak, let your words pass through three gates:
At the first gate, ask yourself:
'Is it true?'
At the second gate, ask:
'Is it necessary?'
At the third gate, ask:
'Is it kind?'
This explains why sufis don't talk a lot and why there's a lot of poetry.
I
Is it true?
No.
II
Is it necessary?
Probably not.
III
Is it kind?
Definitely not.
– Leonard Blumfeld (© 2014)
Written in response to a sufi saying encountered on the Internet:
Before you speak, let your words pass through three gates:
At the first gate, ask yourself:
'Is it true?'
At the second gate, ask:
'Is it necessary?'
At the third gate, ask:
'Is it kind?'
This explains why sufis don't talk a lot and why there's a lot of poetry.
