Wisdom of the Idiots
Encyclopedia
Wisdom of the Idiots is a book of Sufi
teaching stories
by the writer Idries Shah
first published by the Octagon Press
in 1969. A paperback edition was published in 1991.
Wisdom of the Idiots is a book of Sufi teaching stories
designed to have an impact on the reader using traditional Sufi psychology
. Many stories are reminiscences of encounters with Sufis of long ago but experiences highlighted are valuable even from today's perspective. The carefully selected stories contain several levels of meaning and work like psychological mirrors in which the reader may see himself and Reality reflected, and come to understand these better.
‘In Idries Shah’s Wisdom of the Idiots, the ‘idiots’ are Sufis, called this because their wisdom penetrates to a depth which renders it inaccessible to the merely intelligent or academically-knowledgeable.’
Shortly before he died, Shah stated that his books form a complete course that could fulfill the function he had fulfilled while alive. As such, Wisdom of the Idiots can be read as part of a whole course of study.
, a clinical professor of psychiatry and pioneer investigator of mystical states from scientific point of view, studied under Shah and wrote extensively on functional approaches to mysticism.
Wealth, volume and entertainment factor of these stories have spurred establishment of many organizations and colleges of story tellers.
Wisdom of the Idiots has been awarded many prizes, including two gold medals, one for being ‘Best Book’, in conjunction with UNESCO’s World Book Year.
Sufism
Sufism or ' is defined by its adherents as the inner, mystical dimension of Islam. A practitioner of this tradition is generally known as a '...
teaching stories
Teaching stories
Teaching stories is a term used by the writer Idries Shah to describe narratives that have been deliberately created as vehicles for the transmission of wisdom...
by the writer Idries Shah
Idries Shah
Idries Shah , also known as Idris Shah, né Sayed Idries el-Hashimi , 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...
first published by the Octagon Press
Octagon Press
Octagon Press is a cross-cultural publishing house based in London, UK. It was founded in 1960 by Sufi teacher, Idries Shah to establish the historical and cultural context for his ideas.-Description:Octagon Press published many of Shah's later works...
in 1969. A paperback edition was published in 1991.
Content
Teaching stories
Teaching stories is a term used by the writer Idries Shah to describe narratives that have been deliberately created as vehicles for the transmission of wisdom...
designed to have an impact on the reader using traditional Sufi psychology
Sufi psychology
There are three central ideas in Sufi Islamic psychology, which are the Nafs , the Qalb and the Ruh . The origin and basis of these terms is Qur'anic and they have been expounded upon by centuries of Sufic commentaries.-Overview:Nafs is considered to be the lowest principle of man...
. Many stories are reminiscences of encounters with Sufis of long ago but experiences highlighted are valuable even from today's perspective. The carefully selected stories contain several levels of meaning and work like psychological mirrors in which the reader may see himself and Reality reflected, and come to understand these better.
‘In Idries Shah’s Wisdom of the Idiots, the ‘idiots’ are Sufis, called this because their wisdom penetrates to a depth which renders it inaccessible to the merely intelligent or academically-knowledgeable.’
Shortly before he died, Shah stated that his books form a complete course that could fulfill the function he had fulfilled while alive. As such, Wisdom of the Idiots can be read as part of a whole course of study.
Reception
As part of the corpus of teaching stories/traditional psychology, Wisdom of the Idiots has grabbed the attention of modern researchers into psychology. Various techniques that modern science has claimed for itself are clearly present in materials provided centuries before. The psychologist Robert Ornstein has researched the psychological nature of human mind and brain and their relationship to thought, realised potential, and the applicability of traditional techniques for today’s applications. Arthur DeikmanArthur J. Deikman
Arthur J. Deikman is a clinical professor of psychiatry at the University of California, San Francisco, and a member of the editorial board of the Journal of Humanistic Psychology and Human Givens...
, a clinical professor of psychiatry and pioneer investigator of mystical states from scientific point of view, studied under Shah and wrote extensively on functional approaches to mysticism.
Wealth, volume and entertainment factor of these stories have spurred establishment of many organizations and colleges of story tellers.
Wisdom of the Idiots has been awarded many prizes, including two gold medals, one for being ‘Best Book’, in conjunction with UNESCO’s World Book Year.