‘I will instruct you in metaphysics,’ said Nasrudin to a 
neighbor in whom he saw a spark of understanding, albeit
a small one.
   ‘I should be delighted,’ said the man; ‘come to my house
any time and talk to me.’
   Nasrudin realized that the man was thinking that mystical
knowledge could be transmitted entirely by word of mouth.
He said no more.
   A few days later the neighbor called the Mulla from his 
roof. ‘Nasrudin, I want your help to blow my fire, the charcoal
is going out.’
   ‘Certainly,’ said Nasrudin. ‘My breath is at your disposal -
come over here and you can have as much of it as you can 
carry away.’