A Gift of Priceless Wisdom About Sufis AND The Incomparable Tales of Nasruddin! Read them, just read them!!!

Thanks and welcome, AM. What a wonderful gift!

Wisdom is always welcome.

Thanks

I am glad you found this thread helpful, I was not going to bump it.

The works of Idries Shah are a hidden blessing for the world to discover, especially the English-speaking world so deprived of quality spiritual texts with ancient knowledge in the new language.

I think the general interest in Sufi studies declined in the west after the Iranian Revolution 1979, as there seems to be very little talked about along the same lines as Buddhism etc.

Given the volume of wisdom in this philosophy and sect, I can only assume it is for cultural, asthetic reasons that Sufis are not more widely recognized and understood.

If there is one book I have read that I can recommend to any spiritual traveler with a moderate degree of development it would be The Sufis.

Idries Shah's presentations and interpretation of the tales of Nasreddin are more than worth the price of the book, but there is so much more.

[link to www.amazon.com] (Amazon link to the book)

[link to en.wikipedia.org] (regarding Nasreddin)

Cheers,
AM

Last Edited by Least Servant on 09/23/2010 02:21 PM

I summoned no mentat

The Mahdi speaks!

Bumpity for great content.

for all this talk about Lucifer and Christ and Masons is just over the top, IMHO.

What about the Sufis?

Huh???

Just what about them, huh?

Orthodoxy and heresy

"Nasrudin, is your religion orthodox?" "It all depends," said Nasrudin, "on which bunch of heretics is in power."

[link to en.wikibooks.org]

Last Wishes

Nasrudin is with his cronies drinking coffee:
They are discussing death, "When you are in your casket and friends and family are mourning upon you, what would you like to hear them say about you?"
The first crony says, "I would like to hear them say that I was a great doctor of my time, and a great family man."
The second says, " I would like to hear that I was a wonderful husband and school teacher which made a huge difference in our children of tomorrow."
Nasrudin says, " I would like to hear them say... LOOK!! HE'S MOVING!!!"

[link to en.wikibooks.org]

The Nature of the Unseen

It seems that the Master of Mirth and Chief of the Dervishes, Nasrudin, was once called to pontificate on the 'Nature of Allah' in the local mosque. Present were the many Imams and Doctors of the Islamic Law. Out of courtesy and because Nasrudin could not be counted on saying anything worthwhile, these illustrious guests explained and inspired the audience with their eloquence and wisdom.
Finally it was Nasrudin's turn to explain 'the Nature of Allah'.
"Allah ...", started Nasrudin impressively "is ..."
Nasrudin removed and held up an ovoid mauve vegetable from the folds of his turban, " ... an aubergine."
There was uproar at this blasphemy. When order was finally established, Nasrudin was reluctantly asked to explain his words.
"I conclude that everyone has spoken of what they do not know or have not seen. We can all see this aubergine. Is there anyone who can deny that Allah is manifest in all things?"
Nobody could.
"Very well," said Nasrudin, "Allah is an aubergine."

[link to en.wikibooks.org]

Who died?

A traveler was passing through town when he came upon a huge funeral procession. Nasrudin was on a corner watching the people pass by.
"Who died?" the traveler asked Nasrudin.
"I'm not sure," replied Nasrudin, "but I think it's the one in the coffin."

[link to en.wikibooks.org]

Fishy Morality

Once a renowned philosopher and moralist was traveling through Nasruddin's village and asked Nasruddin where there was a good place to eat. Nasruddin suggested a place and the scholar, hungry for conversation, invited Mullah Nasruddin to join him. Much obliged, Mullah Nasruddin accompanied the scholar to a nearby restaurant, where they asked the waiter about the special of the day.
"Fish! Fresh Fish!" replied the waiter.
"Bring us two," they requested.
A few minutes later, the waiter brought out a large platter with two cooked fish on it, one of which was quite a bit smaller than the other. Without hesitating, Mullah Nasruddin took the larger of the fish and put in on his plate. The scholar, giving Mullah Nasruddin a look of intense disbelief, proceed to tell him that what he did was not only flagrantly selfish, but that it violated the principles of almost every known moral, religious, and ethical system. Mullah Nasruddin listened to the philosopher's extempore lecture patiently, and when he had finally exhausted his resources, Mullah Nasruddin said,
"Well, Sir, what would you have done?"
"I, being a conscientious human, would have taken the smaller fish for myself." said the scholar.
"And here you are," Mullah Nasrudin said, and placed the smaller fish on the gentleman's plate.

[link to en.wikibooks.org]

Useful Knowledge

A scholar being ferried by Nasrudin across a body of water chided Nasrudin for his ungrammatical language, and hearing he did not learn in school said: "What? half of your life has been wasted!"
Shortly afterwards, Nasrudin asked him: "Did you learn to swim?"
"No, I did not," replied the scholar.
"Well, in this case it seems all your life has been wasted ... we are sinking," said Nasrudin.

[link to en.wikibooks.org]

Timur's Gift

Timur's armies were plundering the entire Central Asia and the rumors were that Timur was heading for Mullah's village. Hearing this, Mullah in his Friday sermon called for a collective prayer. "Let us all pray for the death of Timur the Lame before he comes". All villagers said Amen loudly.
A man stood up from among the worshipers and asked, "Have you ever seen Timur?".

Mullah replied, "No, and I have not seen you before either".

The man said, "You are right, because I am Timur".

Mullah was stunned by the news, and so were all the villagers. Mullah calmly resumed his sermon. "Let us pray once more collectively, this time our Janazah (funeral prayer)".

"How can you pray your own Janazah you fool", asked Timur, "Janazah is prayed by the living on the dead".

"Yes my lord but you see" replied Mullah "We are all about to be dead with no one to pray Janazah on us. So we have to take care of our Janazah ourselves".

Timur laughed his heart out and pardoned Mullah and gave an elephant as his gift to the village.

The villagers soon discovered that the elephant ate a lot of their crop and was of no use. However they could not kill or sell the gift of Timur out of fear of his wrath. They all blamed Mullah and demanded he returned the gift.
Mullah agreed but on one condition that all villagers should accompany him. Mullah went to the tent of Timur. Timur was in a bad mood and shouted on Mullah as he saw him. "What do you want?"

"It is about the elephant you gave". Mullah replied.

"What about the elephant? Is my gift no good to you?" Timur asked.

Mullah turned and found no villagers behind him. Angry and feeling cheated, Mullah thought of a way out and a revenge with the villagers at the same time.

"Oh it is good alright, my lord" Mullah said, "It is just that he is all alone and feels sad. I was wondering if you can provide him with the company of a female elephant".

[link to en.wikibooks.org]

The Book

While on a trip to another village, Nasrudin lost his favorite copy of the Qur'an.
Several weeks later, a goat walked up to Nasrudin, carrying the Qur'an in its mouth.
Nasrudin couldn't believe his eyes. He took the precious book out of the goat's mouth, raised his eyes heavenward and exclaimed, "It's a miracle!"
"Not really," said the goat. "Your name is written inside the cover."

[link to en.wikibooks.org]

The Guest of Honor

"The dervish Nasrudin entered a formal reception area and seated himself
at the foremost elegant chair. The Chief of the Guard approached and said: "Sir, those places are reserved for guests of honor."
"Oh, I am more than a mere guest," replied Nasrudin confidently.
"Oh, so are you a diplomat?"
"Far more than that!"
"Really? So you are a minister, perhaps?"
"No, bigger than that too."
"Oho! So you must be the King himself, sir," said the Chief sarcastically.
"Higher than that!"
"What?! Are you higher than the King?! Nobody is higher than the King in this village!"
"Now you have it. I am nobody!" said Nasrudin."

[link to en.wikibooks.org]

Nasreddin (or rather, Juha) and the Poem

"This story comes from the Arab version of the character, who is known as Juha.
At some point in time, the Emir got it into his head that he was a poet. After working for many days and nights, he completes the poem, and asks Juha, a noted scholar of poetry, if he would come to the recital. Juha of course could not refuse.
After the Emir had completed reciting the poem, he asked Juha for his opinion. "Are you sure, My Lord?" asked Juha, cautiously. Oblivious, the Emir said, "Of course, that's why I brought you here!" "All right then," Juha replied, "If it pleases Your Lordship, it's terrible."
Obviously angered, the Emir called out "Guards! Put this man in prison." Turning to Juha, he said, "Thirty days," and walked out in a huff.
Shortly after Juha had completed his sentence, the Emir called upon him to attend a recital of another poem. When the Emir finished reciting, Juha immediately rose to his feet and started for the door.
"Where are you going, Juha?" the Emir asked, surprised.
"To the prison, My Lord."

[link to en.wikibooks.org]

Nasreddin and the Sultan's Horse

One day, while Nasreddin was visiting the capital city, the Sultan took offense to a joke that was made at his expense. He had Nasreddin immediately arrested and imprisoned; accusing him of heresy and sedition. Nasreddin apologized to the Sultan for his joke, and begged for his life; but the Sultan remained obstinate, and in his anger, sentenced Nasreddin to be beheaded the following day. When Nasreddin was brought out the next morning, he addressed the Sultan, saying "Oh Sultan, live forever! You know me to be a skilled teacher, the greatest in your kingdom. If you will but delay my sentence for one year, I will teach your favorite horse to sing."
The Sultan did not believe that such a thing was possible; but his anger had cooled, and he was amused by the audacity of Nasreddin's claim. "Very well," replied the Sultan, "you will have a year. But if by the end of that year you have not taught my favorite horse to sing, then you will wish you had been beheaded today."
That evening, Nasreddin's friends were allowed to visit him in prison, and found him in unexpected good spirits. "How can you be so happy?" they asked. "Do you really believe that you can teach the Sultan's horse to sing?" "Of course not," replied Nasreddin, "but I now have a year which I did not have yesterday; and much can happen in that time. The Sultan may come to repent of his anger, and release me. He may die in battle or of illness, and it is traditional for a successor to pardon all prisoners upon taking office. He may be overthrown by another faction, and again, it is traditional for prisoners to be released at such a time. Or the horse may die, in which case the Sultan will be obliged to release me."
"Finally," said Nasreddin, "even if none of those things come to pass, perhaps the horse can sing."

[link to en.wikibooks.org]

I have to thank you for some of those stories, they reminded me of my Grandpa. He always had tells like those. They were always funny too.

I am glad you enjoyed them!

A dervish was walking down the street slightly drunk.
The local mullah sees him and thinking this is a good time ushers the protesting dervish to the mosque for prayers.
After the prayers the mullah talks of the evils of alcohol.
"Now.If I was to put a bowl of water and a bowl of wine in front of a donkey-which would he drink?"
The crowd yells "The water!"
"Yes exactly.Can you tell me why?
The dervish bellows from the crowd "Because hes a jackass!"

Moon or Sun?

Nasrudin is sitting in a café. One of his neighbors says,
"Hey, which is more valuable to people - the Moon or the Sun?" "The Moon, of course!" Nasrudin said without thinking. "But why?"
"When do you think we need light more - in the daytime or at night?"

[link to en.wikibooks.org]

Last Edited by Least Servant on 10/04/2010 08:55 PM

Parking

Nasrudin (during his age, there was no car) has been looking for a parking place for twenty minutes already. He turns around, he waits, he drives a bit further, but finds nothing.
He has an important business meeting and he's going to be late, but nothing, no parking space. Filled with despair he raises his eyes up to the sky and says:
"My God, if you get me a parking space in five minutes, I promise to you that I'll eat kosher (halal) food for the rest of my life..."
And suddenly - O miracle! – right next to him a car drives away leaving an ideal parking spot.
So Nasrudin turns his eyes to the sky and says: "God, stop searching, I found one!"

[link to en.wikibooks.org]

The Great Pumpkin

Nasreddin Hodja was lying in the shade of an ancient walnut tree. His body was at rest, but, befitting his calling as an imam, his mind did not relax. Looking up into the mighty tree he considered the greatness and wisdom of Allah.
"Allah is great and Allah is good," said the Hodja, "but was it indeed wise that such a great tree as this be created to bear only tiny walnuts as fruit? Behold the stout stem and strong limbs. They could easily carry the great pumpkins that grow from spindly vines in yonder field, vines that cannot begin to bear the weight of their own fruit. Should not walnuts grow on weakly vines and pumpkins on sturdy trees?"
So thinking, the Hodja dozed off, only to be awakened by a walnut that fell from the tree, striking him on his forehead.
"Allah be praised!" he exclaimed, seeing what had happened. "If that had been a pumpkin that fell on my head, it would have killed me for sure! God is merciful! He has rearranged nature only to spare my life."

[link to en.wikibooks.org]

Beautiful OP.

Thank you, I enjoy your posts! I have added you to my buddy list.

Excellent post O.P.

for interest!

for interest.