FREE THE WAY OF THE SUFI PDF Idries Shah | 320 pages | 01 Sep 1991 | Penguin Books Ltd | 9780140192520 | English | London, United Kingdom The Way of the Sufi by Idries Shah: | : Books Goodreads helps you keep track of books you want to read. Want to Read saving…. Want to Read Currently Reading Read. Other editions. Enlarge cover. Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Open Preview See a Problem? Details if other :. Thanks for telling us about the problem. Return to The Way of the Sufi Page. The Way of the Sufi by Idries Shah. Rumi Contributor. In The Way of the Sufi wide-ranging anthology of Sufi writings, Idries Shah, who was one of Sufism's leading exponents, offers a broad selection of poetry, contemplations, letters, lectures, and teaching stories that together form an illuminating introduction to this The Way of the Sufi body of thought. Sufism, the mystical aspect of Islam, has had a dynamic and lasting effect on the literature of th In this wide-ranging anthology of Sufi writings, Idries Shah, who was one of Sufism's leading exponents, offers a broad selection of poetry, contemplations, letters, lectures, and teaching stories that together form an illuminating introduction to this unique body of thought. Sufism, the mystical aspect of Islam, has had a dynamic and lasting effect on the literature of that religion. Its teachings, often elusive and subtle, aim at the perfecting and completing of the human mind. In contrast to certain other beliefs and philosophies, Sufism is continually evolving and progressing and is consequently always relevant to The Way of the Sufi contemporary world. Get A Copy. Paperbackpages. Published September 1st by Penguin Books first published More Details Original Title. Other Editions Friend Reviews. To see what your friends thought of this book, please sign up. To ask other readers questions about The Way of the Sufiplease sign up. Lists with This Book. Community Reviews. Showing Average rating 4. Rating details. More filters. Sort order. Start your review of The Way of the Sufi. Jul 27, W rated it liked it Shelves: philosophy. This is an interesting collection of Sufi stories,parables,poetry,lectures and contemplation. The reader need not necessarily agree with all of it,but it's thought provoking,nevertheless. Epitaph of Jalal ud Din Rumi "When we're dead,seek not our tomb in the earth,but find it in the hearts of men. A good book to start reading about Sufism. However, I expected a more "documentary" type of writing. The book is so full of quotes and anecdotes of famous Sufi sheikhs most of the book. There is a great emphasis on how the methods of teaching change from one era to another, and one place to another. The Sufi Sheikh is supposed to know exactly what the student needs and direct him to the right way. This topic is perhaps the most recurrent one. I wished to know more about Sufism by delving into t A good book to The Way of the Sufi reading about Sufism. I wished to know more about Sufism by delving into the main teachings of some orders, the lives of famous Sheikhs Al-Ghazali, Ibn Arabi particularly. I'll see if I find this in his other books. Really enjoyed reading this though! May 23, Kevan Bowkett rated it it was amazing. This text was called 'a key book' by Doris Lessing. Written by traveller and The Way of the Sufi on the Sufis, Idries Shah, the volume contains a great variety of material concerning the people called the Sufis, what they study, and how and why. The collection includes essays, tales, jokes, themes for contemplation, statements by masters, poetry, information on Four Major Orders of Sufism and on classical teachers such as The Way of the Sufi, Ghazali, Saadi, and Omar Khayyam -- in its variety the book seems more like Mi This text was called 'a key book' by Doris Lessing. The collection includes essays, tales, jokes, themes for contemplation, statements by masters, poetry, information on Four Major Orders of The Way of the Sufi and on classical teachers such as Rumi, Ghazali, Saadi, and Omar Khayyam -- in its variety the book seems more like Middle Eastern works such as The Thousand and One Nights, or Jami's Abode of Spring or even the Bible than it is like familiar Western genres. The book serves as a splendid introduction to Sufi thought and practice and the introductory essay, 'The Study of Sufism in the West,' which helps orient the seeker with respect to contemporary Sufism, is alone worth the cost of the volumeand gives the inquirer many matters for thought and reflection. One high point, in a book filled with very many highlights, is the poem of ibn al-Arabi called 'The Special Love,' which seems to convey something of the essence of what the Sufis seek. One valuable message of the book seems to be that the Sufis seek what is sometimes called the Truth, or Reality, out of love for it, for its own sake, not due to ordinary personality The Way of the Sufi extended into this area. Rabia is quoted on this: O Lord! If I worship you from fear of hell, cast me into hell. If I worship you from desire for paradise, deny me paradise. This book is a superb compendium of traditional tales, poetry and sayings from individual Sufis and Sufi schools over the last millennia. The introduction by its compiler, the late Anglo-Afghan author and experiential philosopher, Idries Shah, may be one of the most accurate and comprehensive short articles defining Sufism that exists anywhere. Pages upon pages of anecdotes bursting with layers of wisdom - and involving a mish-mash of characters from Morocco to Indonesia - will reward a conscien This book is a superb compendium of traditional tales, poetry and sayings from individual Sufis and Sufi schools over the last millennia. Pages upon pages of anecdotes bursting with layers of wisdom - and involving a mish-mash of characters from Morocco to Indonesia - will reward a conscientious reader with a great deal more than the sum of its parts. An interconnecting matrix of materials that is encyclopedic in scope. Oct 24, Annie rated it really liked it. This book is a great source of information and history The Way of the Sufi Sufism. A scholarly work, published first init is still pertinent to today. It opens with an important chapter on the study of Sufism in the Western world -- and its limitations. Shah raises questions about how much one can learn and understand about Sufism, using books and writings which may not fully understand how Sufism works. As one example, he uses modern Western debates on the meaning of the word "Sufi". Westerners, with our d This book is a great source of information and history on Sufism. Westerners, with our determination that there is an understandable and intellectual The Way of the Sufi for everything, often cannot accept that there may not be a 'logical' explanatin. As explained in the eleventh -century Revelation, the earliest Persian writings on Sufism by Hujwiri, the term 'Sufi' has no etymology. But for decades, a common explanation by Westerners is that 'Sufi' is similar to the Arabic word pronounced soof which means 'wool'. Those practicing Sufism wore wool, therefore this is the logical explanation. Shah submits that the reason common among Sufis is that the effects of sounds are important in Sufism -- and the sound of the Arabic letters which bring out the sounds of S U F are significant to the Sufis in their practices. This short chapter is full of useful The Way of the Sufi for modern day Western "Sufis"with cautions The Way of the Sufi thoughts about what Sufism is, how it is understood and much more. He ends the chapter with a list of requirements for Western students The Way of the Sufi Sufism - 1. Understand the bulk of translations available are unsuitable 2. Recognize organizations not genuinely Sufi are 'conditioning instruments' whether consciously or otherwise 4. These seem to be true and good questions for any Seeker to ask, of any religious practice This is all in the first chapter, and more - worth the price of the book just to read that section. But, there is of course, much more. Shah states the intent of this book is to give geeral reader an idea of the richness and variety of Sufi ideas, and the rest of the writings have been formed as an introduction to Westerners in the midth century, when the book was written. There are also stories of Sufi Masters, teaching stories, themes for solitary contemplation, group recitals and letters and lectures very short, at the end. My Turkish daughter in law when introduced to American Sufis in our Quaker meeting looked puzzled -- they did not seem closely related to the Sufis she is familiar with. This book may The Way of the Sufi why. Sep 16, Ita rated it it was amazing. Eight centuries after El Ghazali wrote about it, Ivan Pavlov announced the results of his experiments on dogs, and was credited with the discovery of conditioning. He is one of a number of The Way of the Sufi and writers of astounding achievement, who depended for their accomplishments, not on the scientific method as we know it, or even on the intellect, but on the Sufi Way. The educational system which allowed him to develop involves the whole person. Others saw it as the Science of Man, and the Science of Knowledge. Sufi writers produced, and still produce, work considered impossible by our experts in literature.