The teaching must, of course, work with the best part of the individual, must be directed to his or her real capacity.
~ Idries Shah
The source of my suffering and loneliness is deep in my heart. This is a disease no doctor can cure. Only Union with the Friend can cure it.
~ Rabia Basri
The would-be Sufi needs guidance precisely because books, texts, while telling you what is needed, do not tell you when.
In the realm of Greater Understanding, the workshop is dismantled after the work is finished.
None should say: ‘I can trust,’ or ‘I cannot trust’ until he is master of the option, of trusting or not trusting.
Sufism is known by means of itself.
The Prophet's character was termed tremendous because his concern was for God alone.
~ Imam Junayd Al-Baghdadi
The Path is not to be found anywhere except in human service
Saying of the ProphetPracticeWho are the learned? Those who put into practice what they know.
Do not dwell upon whether you will put yourself into the hands of a teacher. You are always in his hands.
The aspirant has to be guided by a mentor. The stage at which this guidance can take effect is seldom, if ever, perceptible to the learner.
Now that I have found thee, I know that in the first step I took, I moved away from thee.
A short time in the presence of the Friends (the Sufis) is better than a hundred years’ sincere, obedient dedication.
A book, for the Sufis, is an instrument as much as it is something to give information....The key is the teacher.
