to provide a more suitable example , it was often said in the court that her purity once even brought forth tears from a visiting prophet , who was so touched by her level of spiritual and moral refinement that the elderly cleric thereupon found himself shadowing her from afar for several days , stroking his long beard thoughtfully and taking fastidious notes on her mannerisms and facial expressions , so that he might attempt to adapt these methodically into a strict regimen of daily austerities for his enlightenment-seeking disciples to follow .