Idries Shah, The World Of The Sufi: An Anthology Of Writings About Sufis And Their Work Quotes

What is humanity? To feel pain at the sorrows of our neighbours, to feel humiliated at the humiliation of fellow-beings.

Our heads are filled with ‘knowledge’, a knowledge that in some areas pre-empts our seeing anything at all.

Certain levels of human understanding cannot be attained, it is claimed, until the brain can work in more than one way.

The process of learning is the process of discovering what really exists.

Most of the supposedly Sufi organizations, exercises and “orders” are in fact only of archaeological interest.

The colour of the water seems to be the colour of the glass into which it has been poured

We and all our existences are non-entities. Thou art the absolute being whose appearance is transitory.

Ibn El-Arabi wrote, ‘The Teacher is he who hears you, then unveils you to yourself

And Rumi tells us, ‘Soul receives from soul that knowledge, therefore not by book nor from tongue’.

The selection and following of a spiritual guide is the most important duty of a Sufi.

At His door, what is the difference between Moslem and Christian, virtuous and guilty? At his door all are seekers and He the sought.

At His door, what is the difference between Muslim and Christian, virtuous and guilty? At his door all are seekers and He the sought.

Unbelief and belief are both marching on His road, while both are saying, ‘He is one and He has no associates’.

If you cannot sit on a throne like a king, seize, like a tent-pitcher, the rope of the Royal tent.

Sufism is, in operation, pragmatic.