As Holland studied Roman or Spartan culture, and its brutality, he noticed that it exuded a morality that was not his. Christian influence on Western civilization is so profound that it has come to be hidden from view. The Romans might have the rule of the world; the Greeks might have their philosophy; the Persians … Read more
By enduring the most agonizing fate imaginable, he had conquered death itself. ‘Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth. The utter strangeness of all this, for … Read more
Tales of the Dervishes by Idries Shah is a wonderful collection of mystical tales and parables that are thought-provoking. Below is a selection. The Grammarian and the Dervish The Idiot and the Browsing Camel The Parable of the Greedy Sons The Mountain Path Three Pieces of Advice The Man Who Was Aware of Death The … Read more
A dog barked all night because of thieves. His sleepless master beat him black and blue.On the next night the dog slept; thieves came.And the silent dog was beaten again.
A MAN said to a Dervish : ‘Why do I not see you more often ?’ The Dervish replied : ‘Because the words “Why have you not been to see me?” are sweeter to my ear than the words “Why have you come again?”.’
A MAN of Merv, well known as the home of complicated thinkers, ran shouting one night through the city’s streets. ‘Thief, Thief!’ he cried. The people surrounded him, and when he was a little calmer, asked: ‘Where was the thief.”’ ‘In my house.’ ‘Did you see him ?’ ‘No.’ ‘Was anything missing?’ ‘No.’ ‘How do … Read more
ONE dark night a dervish was passing a dry well when he heard a cry for help from below. ‘What is the matter?’ he called down. ‘I am a grammarian, and I have unfortunately fallen, due to my ignorance of the path, into this deep well, in which I am now all but immobilized,’ responded … Read more
AN IDIOT looked at a browsing camel. He said to it: ‘Your appearance is awry. Why is this so?’ The camel replied: ‘In judging the impression made, you are attributing a fault to that which shaped the form. Be aware of this! Do not consider my crooked appearance a fault. ‘Get away from me, by … Read more
THERE was once a hard-working and generous farmer who had several idle and greedy sons. On his deathbed he told them that they would find his treasure if they were to dig in a certain field. As soon as the old man was dead, the sons hurried to the fields, which they dug up from … Read more
AN INTELLIGENT man, a scholar with a trained mind, came one day to a village. He wanted to compare, as an exercise and a study, the different points of view which might be represented there. He went to the caravanserai and asked for the most truthful inhabitant and also the greatest liar of the village. … Read more