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The Hundred Tales of Wisdom
Traditionally known as The Hundred Tales of Wisdom, this collection comprises excerpts from the life, teachings and miracles of the Sufi teacher Jalaluddin Rumi, together with certain important stories from his works.
As well as being part of the bedrock of classical Persian literature, these tales, anecdotes and narratives are believed, by Sufis, to aid in the development of insights beyond ordinary perceptions.
Here, they are translated and presented by Idries Shah.
As well as being part of the bedrock of classical Persian literature, these tales, anecdotes and narratives are believed, by Sufis, to aid in the development of insights beyond ordinary perceptions.
Here, they are translated and presented by Idries Shah.
202 pages, Paperback
Published August 13, 2018
About the author
Idries Shah
481 books412 followersIdries Shah (Persian: ادریس شاه), also known as Idris Shah, né Sayed Idries el-Hashimi (Arabic: سيد إدريس هاشمي), 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 family of Afghan nobles, Shah grew up mainly in England. His early writings centred on magic and witchcraft. In 1960 he established a publishing house, Octagon Press, producing translations of Sufi classics as well as titles of his own. His most seminal work was The Sufis, which appeared in 1964 and was well received internationally. In 1965, Shah founded the Institute for Cultural Research, a London-based educational charity devoted to the study of human behaviour and culture. A similar organisation, the Institute for the Study of Human Knowledge (ISHK), exists in the United States, under the directorship of Stanford University psychology professor Robert Ornstein, whom Shah appointed as his deputy in the U.S.
In his writings, Shah presented Sufism as a universal form of wisdom that predated Islam. Emphasising that Sufism was not static but always adapted itself to the current time, place and people, he framed his teaching in Western psychological terms. Shah made extensive use of traditional teaching stories and parables, texts that contained multiple layers of meaning designed to trigger insight and self-reflection in the reader. He is perhaps best known for his collections of humorous Mulla Nasrudin stories.
Shah was at times criticised by orientalists who questioned his credentials and background. His role in the controversy surrounding a new translation of the Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam, published by his friend Robert Graves and his older brother Omar Ali-Shah, came in for particular scrutiny. However, he also had many notable defenders, chief among them the novelist Doris Lessing. Shah came to be recognised as a spokesman for Sufism in the West and lectured as a visiting professor at a number of Western universities. His works have played a significant part in presenting Sufism as a secular, individualistic form of spiritual wisdom.
Idries Shah's books on Sufism achieved considerable critical acclaim. He was the subject of a BBC documentary ("One Pair of Eyes") in 1969, and two of his works (The Way of the Sufi and Reflections) were chosen as "Outstanding Book of the Year" by the BBC's "The Critics" programme. Among other honours, Shah won six first prizes at the UNESCO World Book Year in 1973, and the Islamic scholar James Kritzeck, commenting on Shah's Tales of the Dervishes, said that it was "beautifully translated".
The reception of Shah's movement was also marked by much controversy. Some orientalists were hostile, in part because Shah presented classical Sufi writings as tools for self-development to be used by contemporary people, rather than as objects of historical study. L. P. Elwell-Sutton from Edinburgh University, Shah's fiercest critic, described his books as "trivial", replete with errors of fact, slovenly and inaccurate translations and even misspellings of Oriental names and words – "a muddle of platitudes, irrelevancies and plain mumbo-jumbo", adding for good measure that Shah had "a remarkable opinion of his own importance". Expressing amusement and amazement at the "sycophantic manner" of Shah's interlocutors in a BBC radio interview, Elwell-Sutton concluded that some Western intellectuals were "so desperate to find answers to the questions that baffle them, that, confronted with wisdom from 'the mysterious East,' they abandon their critical faculties and submit to brainwashing of the crudest kind". To Elwell-Sutton, Shah's Sufism belonged to the realm of "Pseudo-Sufism", "centred not on God but on man."
Doris Lessing, one of Shah's greatest defenders,stated in a 1981 interview: "I found Sufism as taught by Idries Shah, which claim
Born in India, the descendant of a family of Afghan nobles, Shah grew up mainly in England. His early writings centred on magic and witchcraft. In 1960 he established a publishing house, Octagon Press, producing translations of Sufi classics as well as titles of his own. His most seminal work was The Sufis, which appeared in 1964 and was well received internationally. In 1965, Shah founded the Institute for Cultural Research, a London-based educational charity devoted to the study of human behaviour and culture. A similar organisation, the Institute for the Study of Human Knowledge (ISHK), exists in the United States, under the directorship of Stanford University psychology professor Robert Ornstein, whom Shah appointed as his deputy in the U.S.
In his writings, Shah presented Sufism as a universal form of wisdom that predated Islam. Emphasising that Sufism was not static but always adapted itself to the current time, place and people, he framed his teaching in Western psychological terms. Shah made extensive use of traditional teaching stories and parables, texts that contained multiple layers of meaning designed to trigger insight and self-reflection in the reader. He is perhaps best known for his collections of humorous Mulla Nasrudin stories.
Shah was at times criticised by orientalists who questioned his credentials and background. His role in the controversy surrounding a new translation of the Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam, published by his friend Robert Graves and his older brother Omar Ali-Shah, came in for particular scrutiny. However, he also had many notable defenders, chief among them the novelist Doris Lessing. Shah came to be recognised as a spokesman for Sufism in the West and lectured as a visiting professor at a number of Western universities. His works have played a significant part in presenting Sufism as a secular, individualistic form of spiritual wisdom.
Idries Shah's books on Sufism achieved considerable critical acclaim. He was the subject of a BBC documentary ("One Pair of Eyes") in 1969, and two of his works (The Way of the Sufi and Reflections) were chosen as "Outstanding Book of the Year" by the BBC's "The Critics" programme. Among other honours, Shah won six first prizes at the UNESCO World Book Year in 1973, and the Islamic scholar James Kritzeck, commenting on Shah's Tales of the Dervishes, said that it was "beautifully translated".
The reception of Shah's movement was also marked by much controversy. Some orientalists were hostile, in part because Shah presented classical Sufi writings as tools for self-development to be used by contemporary people, rather than as objects of historical study. L. P. Elwell-Sutton from Edinburgh University, Shah's fiercest critic, described his books as "trivial", replete with errors of fact, slovenly and inaccurate translations and even misspellings of Oriental names and words – "a muddle of platitudes, irrelevancies and plain mumbo-jumbo", adding for good measure that Shah had "a remarkable opinion of his own importance". Expressing amusement and amazement at the "sycophantic manner" of Shah's interlocutors in a BBC radio interview, Elwell-Sutton concluded that some Western intellectuals were "so desperate to find answers to the questions that baffle them, that, confronted with wisdom from 'the mysterious East,' they abandon their critical faculties and submit to brainwashing of the crudest kind". To Elwell-Sutton, Shah's Sufism belonged to the realm of "Pseudo-Sufism", "centred not on God but on man."
Doris Lessing, one of Shah's greatest defenders,stated in a 1981 interview: "I found Sufism as taught by Idries Shah, which claim
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
February 28, 2019
"Do not look at my outward shape but take what is in my hand." Jalaluddin Rumi
The Hundred Tales of Wisdom, translated by Idries Shah, is a Persian classic featuring tales & anecdotes from the life, teaching & miracles of 13th century poet & Sufi teacher Jalaluddin Rumi. It also includes some important tales from his works. Even as a longtime reader of Central Asian literature, I found this book extremely challenging. If you are credulous or critical you may get very little from this book. Some tales appeared overly reverent, some insipid & some beyond belief. Others were very thought provoking. Nevertheless I tried to read this book without judgement, assumption, expectation or knee jerk reaction. I simply read & experienced the tales as best I could, letting them sink in; trying to observe my reactions. I discovered some "hidden" gems & a taste of something very different. Yet I felt like I only scratched the surface. There seemed to be so much that I misunderstood or failed to understand. Sufis believe this book can help develop insights beyond ordinary perceptions. Both are compelling reasons to reread this remarkable & puzzling book.
The Hundred Tales of Wisdom, translated by Idries Shah, is a Persian classic featuring tales & anecdotes from the life, teaching & miracles of 13th century poet & Sufi teacher Jalaluddin Rumi. It also includes some important tales from his works. Even as a longtime reader of Central Asian literature, I found this book extremely challenging. If you are credulous or critical you may get very little from this book. Some tales appeared overly reverent, some insipid & some beyond belief. Others were very thought provoking. Nevertheless I tried to read this book without judgement, assumption, expectation or knee jerk reaction. I simply read & experienced the tales as best I could, letting them sink in; trying to observe my reactions. I discovered some "hidden" gems & a taste of something very different. Yet I felt like I only scratched the surface. There seemed to be so much that I misunderstood or failed to understand. Sufis believe this book can help develop insights beyond ordinary perceptions. Both are compelling reasons to reread this remarkable & puzzling book.
April 10, 2023
Truth and Beauty.
The Hundred Tales of Wisdom... works from Rumi... ‘Translated from the Persian and presented by Idries Shah.’ This collection is perfume wafted on a breeze. For one’s joy, for one’s sorrow for one’s startled surprise, above all, for the deepening of understanding. THE STOLEN SNAKE. A man stole a snake from a man who had caught it. The snake bit him and he died. In this way the first man was spared the snake's bite .The second man had his desire (to steal the snake) but the effect of his wish being granted was to kill him. Page 76 Stone into Ruby...Beautiful story. June 2020. Greatly impressed by 'Telepathic Visit.' Page 63. Quote: 'And greed leads to the darkness of dungeons.'
The Hundred Tales of Wisdom... works from Rumi... ‘Translated from the Persian and presented by Idries Shah.’ This collection is perfume wafted on a breeze. For one’s joy, for one’s sorrow for one’s startled surprise, above all, for the deepening of understanding. THE STOLEN SNAKE. A man stole a snake from a man who had caught it. The snake bit him and he died. In this way the first man was spared the snake's bite .The second man had his desire (to steal the snake) but the effect of his wish being granted was to kill him. Page 76 Stone into Ruby...Beautiful story. June 2020. Greatly impressed by 'Telepathic Visit.' Page 63. Quote: 'And greed leads to the darkness of dungeons.'
April 10, 2019
A patchwork of incredibly subtle, yet powerful, anecdotal vignettes from the life of Rumi. It’s a fascinating and unique work whose haunting slideshow of impressions sticks with you after you've finished reading.
The late Nobel Prize winning author, Doris Lessing, once wrote about this book: “The Hundred Tales is traditional hagiography, a classic studied for seven hundred years by students of the Sufi Way as part of the ‘curriculum’ – and that means Christians and Jews as well as Muslims. It concerns Rumi, the saint whose funeral was attended by members of these and other faiths, all saying he was their teacher."
The late Nobel Prize winning author, Doris Lessing, once wrote about this book: “The Hundred Tales is traditional hagiography, a classic studied for seven hundred years by students of the Sufi Way as part of the ‘curriculum’ – and that means Christians and Jews as well as Muslims. It concerns Rumi, the saint whose funeral was attended by members of these and other faiths, all saying he was their teacher."
May 13, 2018
This book has just been republished in a very pleasurable format by ISF Publishing. It looks good and is s pleasure to handle. It is a slim volume and differs from the other books I have read by Idries Shah in that this is not an original work but a translation Shah made (from Persian) of an old collection of stories about the life of Jalaludin Rumi. Thus it has an antique face, very different from Shah's usual and wonderfully brisk English. Some of the tales I have read before in his modern retelling, so it is interesting to see them in their original cultural and religious setting.
April 16, 2019
These classic Sufi tales, chosen and translated from Persian by Idries Shah, work to help us see beyond our usual assumptions and perceptions. As enjoyable as they are, they also add layers of insight to our mind (far away from the shallow trends of virtual interaction today).
March 23, 2019
The stories within this work leave the mind questioning, not just in the sense of are they true or not. An excellent read.
July 17, 2019
The Persian classic about the life and miracles of one of the Sufi greats translated by Idries Shah. Of course Rumi is one of the best known mystics and poets in history, and his influence transcends both time and place. Many of the tales will test the bounds of believability, but that is relatively unimportant. There is much of great value in this book, the reader can absorb what it has to offer without deciding whether to accept or reject the contents as "true".
September 26, 2022
These stories from Rumi's 66 years long life 1207 – 1273 are a comforting read in these crazy times precisely because their focus is on wisdom and tells about days long gone when wisdom was sought more openly. In those days Jews, Muslims and Christians alike went to Konya to meet Rumi, whom they saw as their spiritual leader.
Some of the stories are quite puzzling, some are familiar like The Old Woman and the Hawk; Give me the Whole, not the Parts - and some are wondrously miraculous or incredible if you prefer.
Some of the stories are quite puzzling, some are familiar like The Old Woman and the Hawk; Give me the Whole, not the Parts - and some are wondrously miraculous or incredible if you prefer.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews