THE WAY OF THE SUFI

Idries Shah

Octagon Press, London, 1980

Intended to illustrate something of the richness and range of Sufi ideas, this remarkable book contains extracts, verses, anecdotes, epigrams, lectures, contemplation-themes and teaching-stories culled from such classical authors as Rumi, El-Ghazali and Omar Khayyam as well as sources best known to Sufis themselves.The Way of the Sufi offers the reader an introductory course of study, beginning with a review of special problems facing the Western student. Not least of these is the fact that Sufi writings are instrumental in function rather than didactic or just literature. Most are written to meet the needs of a specific community at a particular time, rather than to be universally or perennially read.

This is also available in audio readings (An Advanced Psychology of the East, Code ADPE1).

AN ANSWER OF JESUS
Some Israelites reviled Jesus one day as he was walking through their part of town. But he answered by repeating prayers in their name.
Someone said to him: 'You prayed for these men, did you not feel incensed against them?'
He answered: 'I could spend only of what I had in my purse.'
--From The Way of the Sufi © 1968, 1980 by The Estate of Idries Shah