The Magic Monastery

This beautiful collection of stories is one of Shah's best-selling books, and a stirring example of the Sufi system of development at work in the world today. The Magic Monastery was the first book to include stories written by Shah, along with traditional tales illustrating the instructional methods employed by Middle Eastern sages during the last thousand years--mostly unpublished.

DELUSION A would-be disciple said to a sage: "I have been listening to you for days now, condemning attitudes and ideas, and even conduct, which are not mine and never have been. What is the purpose of this?"

The sage said: "The purpose of it is that you should, at some point, stop imagining that you have not been like any of the things I condemn; and to realize that you have a delusion that you are not like that now."

PITCHER LORE Have you heard about the tragedy of the little pitcher? He heard a thirsty man calling for water from his sick-bed in a corner of a room.

The pitcher was so full of compassion for the man that by a supreme effort of will he actually managed to roll to within an inch of the sufferer's hand. When the man opened his eyes and saw a pitcher beside him, he was full of wonderment and relief. He managed to pick up the jug and held it to his lips. Then he realized that it was empty.

With almost the last remains of his strength, the invalid threw the pitcher against a wall, where it smashed into useless pieces of clay.

Copyright © 1972, 1981, 1991. Idries Shah. All rights reserved.