SEEKER AFTER TRUTH
A Handbook

Idries Shah

Octagon Press, London, 1992

This collection of tales, discussions, teachings, letters and lectures is a handbook for stepping outside the assumptions that shape our culture and outlook on life.

Seeker After Truth goes beyond the familiar 'first do this, then do that' style of handbook, transporting the reader to new ranges of perception, according to his or her capacity.

Audio selections can be found in 'On the Nature of Sufi Knowledge,' Code NASK1.

ALARM
Q: The dangers of personality-worship and the need for everyone to find his own way are the most attractive statements of a certain guru, who has many disciples all over the world. Should he not be listened to?
A: There is a saying: 'Do not fell a tree which is giving shade.' Many people imagine that such gurus as this are holy and useful. They are, in fact, providing a distinguished social (though not a spiritual) service. Those who need this 'shade' should certainly have it.
As for others, they should be able to know what is shade and what is something else.
The way to determine this is to look and see whether, in the words of another proverb, some people are 'Feeding a flame and crying 'Fire'!'
--From Seeker After Truth © 1982, 1992 by The Estate of Idries Shah

A book unlike anything our society has produced until recently, in its richness, its unexpectedness, its capacity to shock us into seeing ourselves as others see us.'
--Literary Review