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Special Problems in the Study of Sufi Ideas
A remarkable conspectus of philosophical contacts between East and West through the ages. This important monograph constitutes the whole text of Idries Shah's Seminar at Sussex University, fully annotated, indexed and with a bibliography and notes. It knits together the available knowledge about Sufi thought and literature in its passage through many deforming influences, such as the development of cults, the misinterpretation by literalist scholars, and the fallacious comparisons of committed "specialists".
160 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1974
About the author
Idries Shah
560 books448 followersIdries Shah (Persian: ادریس شاه), also known as Idris Shah, né Sayed Idries el-Hashimi (Arabic: سيد إدريس هاشمي), was an author and teacher in the Sufi tradition who wrote over three dozen critically acclaimed books on topics ranging from psychology and spirituality to travelogues and culture studies.
Born in India, the descendant of a family of Afghan nobles, Shah grew up mainly in England. His early writings centred on magic and witchcraft. In 1960 he established a publishing house, Octagon Press, producing translations of Sufi classics as well as titles of his own. His most seminal work was The Sufis, which appeared in 1964 and was well received internationally. In 1965, Shah founded the Institute for Cultural Research, a London-based educational charity devoted to the study of human behaviour and culture. A similar organisation, the Institute for the Study of Human Knowledge (ISHK), exists in the United States, under the directorship of Stanford University psychology professor Robert Ornstein, whom Shah appointed as his deputy in the U.S.
In his writings, Shah presented Sufism as a universal form of wisdom that predated Islam. Emphasising that Sufism was not static but always adapted itself to the current time, place and people, he framed his teaching in Western psychological terms. Shah made extensive use of traditional teaching stories and parables, texts that contained multiple layers of meaning designed to trigger insight and self-reflection in the reader. He is perhaps best known for his collections of humorous Mulla Nasrudin stories.
Shah was at times criticised by orientalists who questioned his credentials and background. His role in the controversy surrounding a new translation of the Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam, published by his friend Robert Graves and his older brother Omar Ali-Shah, came in for particular scrutiny. However, he also had many notable defenders, chief among them the novelist Doris Lessing. Shah came to be recognised as a spokesman for Sufism in the West and lectured as a visiting professor at a number of Western universities. His works have played a significant part in presenting Sufism as a secular, individualistic form of spiritual wisdom.
Idries Shah's books on Sufism achieved considerable critical acclaim. He was the subject of a BBC documentary ("One Pair of Eyes") in 1969, and two of his works (The Way of the Sufi and Reflections) were chosen as "Outstanding Book of the Year" by the BBC's "The Critics" programme. Among other honours, Shah won six first prizes at the UNESCO World Book Year in 1973, and the Islamic scholar James Kritzeck, commenting on Shah's Tales of the Dervishes, said that it was "beautifully translated".
The reception of Shah's movement was also marked by much controversy. Some orientalists were hostile, in part because Shah presented classical Sufi writings as tools for self-development to be used by contemporary people, rather than as objects of historical study. L. P. Elwell-Sutton from Edinburgh University, Shah's fiercest critic, described his books as "trivial", replete with errors of fact, slovenly and inaccurate translations and even misspellings of Oriental names and words – "a muddle of platitudes, irrelevancies and plain mumbo-jumbo", adding for good measure that Shah had "a remarkable opinion of his own importance". Expressing amusement and amazement at the "sycophantic manner" of Shah's interlocutors in a BBC radio interview, Elwell-Sutton concluded that some Western intellectuals were "so desperate to find answers to the questions that baffle them, that, confronted with wisdom from 'the mysterious East,' they abandon their critical faculties and submit to brainwashing of the crudest kind". To Elwell-Sutton, Shah's Sufism belonged to the realm of "Pseudo-Sufism", "centred not on God but on man."
Doris Lessing, one of Shah's greatest defenders,stated in a 1981 interview: "I found Sufism as taught by Idries Shah, which claim
Born in India, the descendant of a family of Afghan nobles, Shah grew up mainly in England. His early writings centred on magic and witchcraft. In 1960 he established a publishing house, Octagon Press, producing translations of Sufi classics as well as titles of his own. His most seminal work was The Sufis, which appeared in 1964 and was well received internationally. In 1965, Shah founded the Institute for Cultural Research, a London-based educational charity devoted to the study of human behaviour and culture. A similar organisation, the Institute for the Study of Human Knowledge (ISHK), exists in the United States, under the directorship of Stanford University psychology professor Robert Ornstein, whom Shah appointed as his deputy in the U.S.
In his writings, Shah presented Sufism as a universal form of wisdom that predated Islam. Emphasising that Sufism was not static but always adapted itself to the current time, place and people, he framed his teaching in Western psychological terms. Shah made extensive use of traditional teaching stories and parables, texts that contained multiple layers of meaning designed to trigger insight and self-reflection in the reader. He is perhaps best known for his collections of humorous Mulla Nasrudin stories.
Shah was at times criticised by orientalists who questioned his credentials and background. His role in the controversy surrounding a new translation of the Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam, published by his friend Robert Graves and his older brother Omar Ali-Shah, came in for particular scrutiny. However, he also had many notable defenders, chief among them the novelist Doris Lessing. Shah came to be recognised as a spokesman for Sufism in the West and lectured as a visiting professor at a number of Western universities. His works have played a significant part in presenting Sufism as a secular, individualistic form of spiritual wisdom.
Idries Shah's books on Sufism achieved considerable critical acclaim. He was the subject of a BBC documentary ("One Pair of Eyes") in 1969, and two of his works (The Way of the Sufi and Reflections) were chosen as "Outstanding Book of the Year" by the BBC's "The Critics" programme. Among other honours, Shah won six first prizes at the UNESCO World Book Year in 1973, and the Islamic scholar James Kritzeck, commenting on Shah's Tales of the Dervishes, said that it was "beautifully translated".
The reception of Shah's movement was also marked by much controversy. Some orientalists were hostile, in part because Shah presented classical Sufi writings as tools for self-development to be used by contemporary people, rather than as objects of historical study. L. P. Elwell-Sutton from Edinburgh University, Shah's fiercest critic, described his books as "trivial", replete with errors of fact, slovenly and inaccurate translations and even misspellings of Oriental names and words – "a muddle of platitudes, irrelevancies and plain mumbo-jumbo", adding for good measure that Shah had "a remarkable opinion of his own importance". Expressing amusement and amazement at the "sycophantic manner" of Shah's interlocutors in a BBC radio interview, Elwell-Sutton concluded that some Western intellectuals were "so desperate to find answers to the questions that baffle them, that, confronted with wisdom from 'the mysterious East,' they abandon their critical faculties and submit to brainwashing of the crudest kind". To Elwell-Sutton, Shah's Sufism belonged to the realm of "Pseudo-Sufism", "centred not on God but on man."
Doris Lessing, one of Shah's greatest defenders,stated in a 1981 interview: "I found Sufism as taught by Idries Shah, which claim
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
October 16, 2019
This tiny book is invaluable in helping us come to grips with Sufi thought and practice. It is shocking that such a tiny book can be so wide-ranging and useful. It details what typically blocks our understanding and how to recognize what is genuine. Sufism has countless faces, adapting itself to different times, places and peoples, many of them not “religious” or “mystical” at all. So many things about Sufism are unexpected, that it is easily misunderstood or missed. This little book is a marvelous introduction to the Sufi Way. It is a gateway to further study. It can help people avoid problems which would prevent them learning about Sufis and many other things too.
September 16, 2013
Special Problems in the Study of Sufi Ideas.
‘All this goes to show that things mean what I want them to mean’ is a standard human posture. Until what the things really do mean becomes the commanding principle the student will not be able to profit from them in a learning sense.’ A quote taken from the preface. This book helps in that process.
I tried to write of the content in more detail. Couldn’t do it. I will quote again: ‘Forms of Sufi activity.
What else do Sufis teach, how do they do so, and what special problems does this study pose for those who would wish to learn from a reputable source of the ideas?’The Notes and Bibliography are a delight. In the old adage, beg, borrow or steal this book.
‘All this goes to show that things mean what I want them to mean’ is a standard human posture. Until what the things really do mean becomes the commanding principle the student will not be able to profit from them in a learning sense.’ A quote taken from the preface. This book helps in that process.
I tried to write of the content in more detail. Couldn’t do it. I will quote again: ‘Forms of Sufi activity.
What else do Sufis teach, how do they do so, and what special problems does this study pose for those who would wish to learn from a reputable source of the ideas?’The Notes and Bibliography are a delight. In the old adage, beg, borrow or steal this book.
September 18, 2019
Special problems in the Study of Sufi Ideas.
‘All this goes to show that things mean what I want them to mean’ is a standard human posture. Until what the things really do mean becomes the commanding principle the student will not be able to profit from them in a learning sense.’
A quote taken from the preface.
This book helps in that process.
I tried to write of the content in more detail. Couldn’t do it. I will quote again.
‘Forms of Sufi activity:
What else do Sufis teach, how do they do so, and what special problems does this study pose for those who would wish to learn from a reputable source of the ideas?’
The Notes and Bibliography are a delight.
In the old adage, beg, borrow or steal this book.
‘All this goes to show that things mean what I want them to mean’ is a standard human posture. Until what the things really do mean becomes the commanding principle the student will not be able to profit from them in a learning sense.’
A quote taken from the preface.
This book helps in that process.
I tried to write of the content in more detail. Couldn’t do it. I will quote again.
‘Forms of Sufi activity:
What else do Sufis teach, how do they do so, and what special problems does this study pose for those who would wish to learn from a reputable source of the ideas?’
The Notes and Bibliography are a delight.
In the old adage, beg, borrow or steal this book.
April 9, 2022
This short book is a fascinating and worthwhile read that does an amazing job of clarifying a widely misunderstood subject. I strongly recommend it!
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews