A Perfumed Scorpion

by Idries Shah

Overview

The 'perfuming of a scorpion', referred to by the great Sufi teacher Bahaudin, symbolizes hypocrisy and self-deception: both in the individual and in institutions.

In A Perfumed Scorpion, Idries Shah directs attention to both the perfume and the scorpion - the overlay and the reality - in psychology, human behavior and the learning process.

Crammed with illustrative anecdotes from contemporary life, the book is nevertheless rooted in the teaching patterns of Rumi, Hafiz, Jami, and many other great Oriental sages. It deals with the need for and the path to knowledge and information.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781784791018
Publisher:	ISF Publishing
Publication date:	07/24/2017
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
File size:	2 MB

About the Author

Born in 1924 into an aristocratic Afghan family, Idries Shah created a large body of literary work, most of which considered elements of 'Eastern Thought', especially Sufism and Sufi thought. Some of his best known works include The Sufis and several collections of teaching stories featuring Nasrudin. Shah devoted his life to collecting, selecting and translating Sufi books and key works of Sufi classical literature, adapting them to the needs of the West and disseminating them in the Occident. Called by some 'practical philosophy', by others 'templates in straight thinking' – these works represent centuries of Sufi thought and Islamic thought aimed at the development of human potential to its fullest extent. They stress virtues such as commonsense, clear-thinking and humour to counter cant and religious dogma. As such they are vital works in the area of Islamic philosophy, and may be viewed as an antidote to radicalism and fanaticism much needed in the world today. Shah's books have been translated into dozens of languages, have sold in their millions, and are regarded as a cultural bridge between West and East. His work and contribution to Sufism are represented by The Idries Shah Foundation.

Read an Excerpt

BEARD, CLOAK AND ROSARY
I cannot resist, thinking of ancient formulae, referring to the story of the man with a bushy beard, wearing a rosary around his neck, dressed in a hooded cloak, with long and greasy hair, who was anxious, recently, to tell everyone that he was 'A Sufi.'

Someone - who really was a Sufi - asked him why he was behaving like that. He said: "I am following the instructions and information contained in this ancient handbook for disciples".

"But," said the real Sufi, "that cannot apply now - it was written several centuries ago..."

"That may well be" said the new 'Sufi', "but I only found it last month!"
Excerpted from A Perfumed Scorpion : A Way to the Way by Idries Shah. Copyright © 1982. Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.

Editorial Reviews

... an invigorating and abrasive book, like jumping into icy water - hard to do, but you're glad you have done it.

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