A would-be disciple haunted Nasrudin, asking him question after question. The Mulla answered everything, and realized that the man was not completely satisfied: although he was in fact making progress. Eventually the man said:
‘Master, I need more explicit guidance.’
‘What is the matter?’
‘I have to keep on doing things; and although I progress, I want to move faster. Please tell me a secret, as I have heard you do with others.
‘I will tell you when you are ready for it.’
The man later returned to the same theme.
‘Very well. You know that your need is to emulate me?’
‘Yes.’
‘Can you keep a secret?’
‘I would never impart it to anyone.’
‘Then observe that I can keep a secret as well as you can.’
The Exploits of the Incomparable Mulla Nasrudin Idries Shah, Octagon Press