Idries Shah Quotes - Page 4

Do not dwell upon whether you will put yourself into the hands of a teacher. You are always in his hands.
Idries Shah
He who sleeps on the Road will lose either his hat or his head.
Idries Shah
Before the antidote arrives from Iraq The man with snake-bite will be dead.
Idries Shah
The bowl is warmer than the soup.
Idries Shah
When tomorrow comes, think tomorrow's thoughts.
Idries Shah
There are as many paths to Truth as there are souls of men.
Idries Shah
The Sufis say, "This is not a religion; it is religion
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Sufism is the essence of all religions.
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SOVEREIGNTYSovereignty is a wind of change. (Hariri)
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The hearts of the noble are the graves of confidences.
Idries Shah
He who is fortunately enlightened [the Sufi]Knows that sophistry is from the devil and love from Adam.
Idries Shah
Satisfaction is a treasure which does not decay.Proverb
Idries Shah
Nothing can defile the Sufi, and he in fact purifies everything.” Abu-Turab al-Nakhsabi.
Idries Shah
Rumi himself once said that counterfeit gold is only to be found because there is such a thing as real gold to be copied.
Idries Shah
Hariri says, in his Maqamat: ‘Safety is on the river’s BANK.
Idries Shah
The skilled artisan uses the same iron to make a horseshoeAs he does for a polished mirror for the King.
Idries Shah
The great poet Hafiz says that you should dye your prayer-carpet with wine if your teacher tells you to do so.
Idries Shah
Everything man needs is in the world.
Idries Shah
God provides the food, men provide the cooks.
Idries Shah
Angels are the powers hidden in the faculties and organs of man
Idries Shah
StagesFirst I thought that a Teacher must be right in all things. Then I imagined that my teacher was wrong in many things. Then I realised what was right and what was wrong.What was wrong was to remain in either of the first two stages. What was right was to convey this to everyone.(Ardabili)
Idries Shah
When the Higher Man does something worthy of admiration, it is an evidence of his Mastership, not the object of it.
Idries Shah
People who speak or act in an ordinary fashion are most likely to be those who have been the recipients of higher experiences. But because they do not rage around, wild-eyed, people think that they are very ordinary folk and therefore not aware of anything unknown to the general run of man.
Idries Shah
Sandals. The Sufi teacher Ghulam-Shah was asked what pattern he used in formulating his courses for disciples. He said: 'Barefoot until you can get sandals, sandals until you can manage boots.
Idries Shah
Enlightenment must come little by little - otherwise it would overwhelm.
Idries Shah
Like the bat, the Sufi is asleep to 'things of the day' - the familiar struggle for existence which the ordinary man finds all-important - and vigilant while others are asleep. In other words, he keeps awake the spiritual attention dormant in others. That 'mankind sleeps in a nightmare of unfulfillment' is a commonplace of Sufi literature
Idries Shah
If, from time to time, you give up expectation, you will be able to perceive what it is you are getting.
Idries Shah
The colour of the water seems to be the colour of the glass into which it has been poured'.
Idries Shah
Careful preparation is necessary before people can perceive something which is there all the time.
Idries Shah
That which is capable of perceiving objective reality is, in Sufism, the human soul (ruh).
Idries Shah
All forms are limited. Some of the limitations are time, place, culture, language.
Idries Shah
Form is useful, but it is secondary.
Idries Shah
A Sufi has a right to be served, but he has no right to demand. Maruf Karkhi of Khorasan
Idries Shah
The major barrier to understanding is wishful thinking and following that which pleases one.
Idries Shah
Whoever is to be wise despises himself. Only the ignorant trust their own judgement.
Idries Shah
Great men are great until they know it. Saints are holy until they know it.
Idries Shah
If you will not reprove yourself,’ Saadi says, ‘you will not welcome reproof from another.
Idries Shah
Trying to force something is the best way to stop it happening.
Idries Shah
It is not 'Have I got a chance?' It is more often: 'Have I seen my chance?
Idries Shah
When people have a hard task to do - one which stretches them - they become less concerned with trivial matters.
Idries Shah
Treat this world as I do, like a wayfarer; like a horseman who stops in the shade of a tree for a time, and then moves on.
Idries Shah
Saying of the ProphetObjectsIt is your attachment to objects which make you blind and deaf.
Idries Shah
Saying of the ProphetPracticeWho are the learned? Those who put into practice what they know.
Idries Shah
Saying of the ProphetOppressionWhen oppression exists, even the bird dies in its nest.
Idries Shah
Helping othersI order you to assist any oppressed person, whether he is a Moslem or not.
Idries Shah
Saying of the ProphetDistributionGod it is who gives: I am only a distributor.
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Saying of the ProphetWomenWomen are the twin-halves of men.
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Saying of the ProphetReflectionThe Faithful are mirrors, one to the other.
Idries Shah
Saying of the ProphetPrivacyWhoever invades people´s privacy corrupts them.
Idries Shah
Saying of the ProphetLoveDo you think you love your Creator? Love your fellow-creature first.
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Saying of the ProphetObligation to LearnThe pursuit of knowledge is obligatory on every Muslim.
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Saying of the ProphetTruthSpeaking the truth to the unjust is the best of holy wars.
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Saying of the ProphetTHE PEOPLEIt is the people who are God's family.(Muhammad the Prophet)
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Saying of the ProphetSome behaviourI am like a man who has lighted a fire, and all the creeping things have rushed to burn themselves in it.
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Saying of the ProphetThe BequestI have nothing to leave you except my family.
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Saying of the ProphetFoodNobody has eaten better food than that won by his own labour.
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Saying of the ProphetAccusationsAnyone reviling a brother for a sin will not himself die before committing it.
Idries Shah
Saying of the Prophet.Lies, promises, trustHe is not of mine who lies, breaks a promise or fails in his trust.
Idries Shah
Saying of the ProphetTasksWhoever makes all his tasks one task, God will help him in his other concerns.
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Teaching:One hour's teaching is better than a whole night of prayer.Saying of the Prophet
Idries Shah