This material is certainly important for people to know. Much of it seems to be taken almost verbatim from Idries Shah's book "Special Illumination: Examining the role and place of humour in Sufi thought," and interested readers may want to investigate Mr. Shah's other writings. They are all available online for free from the Idries Shah Foundation.
The notion that humans are "evolving" metaphysically is common to a great deal of "perennial" literature today. Readers may wish to consult writings from the "Traditionalist" school, such as Rene Guenon's "Crisis of the Modern World" from 1927, or "The Reign of Quantity & the Signs of the Times" from 1945, for a quite different perspective. Such writings discuss mankind's cyclical devolution from spiritual to materialist states and the implications and consequences of this devolution. Many cultural traditions speak of their own devolution from a former Golden age. It is modern hubris that imagines such tales are mere fables. English translations of Guenon's writings are available free on the Internet.
The now frequent claims of "conscious evolution" attribute to Man what is God's to decide. Such claims invert metaphysical truth, and are inevitable as this cycle collapses into total materialism.
Thanks Neil - pertinent observations. Yes, the work of Idries Shah has been a large influence on my own direction here. And like you say, I would encourage interested readers to seek out more of Shah's work (which I indicated in the 'Suggested Reading' at the end of the book). There is some correspondence to the 'Perennial Tradition' of the Traditionalists like Rene Guenon, but Guenon could not be described as really having much of a sense of humour, and I find the Traditionalists quite dry in their approach, hence I have focused on a more contemporary line of enquiry.... I would also suggest a reading of 'The People of the Secret' by Ernest Scott.
Guenon's work is certainly not laden with humor. Of course, being able to appreciate humor does not mean one's works should necessarily involve humor. Guenon was likely a Sufi, and Sufi writing and work tends to be instrumental. If humor had been important to his objectives, presumably Guenon would have used it.
I agree that many readers would find Traditionalist writing "dry." As far as I can tell, much of this writing was not intended for the average person, but for those prepared for the message. Personally I have found Guenon's, Schuon's, and Burkhardt's writings challenging but insightful. They are a breath of fresh air in the stagnant world of New Age magical thinking.
Thank you for the book suggestion. I have read "The People of the Secret," and I agree that it is worth reading, but my reasons may differ from your own.
The very use of the word "secret" in the title suggests who the target audience is-- people eager for secret knowledge. Such people are often also fascinated by reports of miracles, extrasensory perception, and ecstatic states brought on by hallucinogens. Such interests are not wrong, but too strong a focus on such things stifles metaphysical growth.
The book itself presents a great deal of information that purports to be historical fact. Unfortunately, it is quite difficult to prove much of anything about history using conventional reason. The whole process of historical investigation is hopelessly biased because researchers can only work with what they can find, and often lack context for what they do find. The book itself admits that it is speculative. Essentially "The People of the Secret" reports a broad range of informational tidbits-- gossip-- about people and secret societies but necessarily leaves many details out. Confronting this field of information without detail, the human mind eagerly elaborates, and attributes motives by speculating.
It does seem true that Sufis, in the sense discussed at length by Idries Shah, have historically worked to broaden perspectives within the communities they lived in. Their actions may well be the origin of the “impulses” discussed in “The People of the Secret.” One Sufic objective has been to break down rigid points of view, which the Sufis characterize as a form of idol worship-- fixed ideas being the idols. Sufi work was not aimed at the “evolution of mankind” per se, but rather, the preparation of individuals for the possibility of spiritual development and learning.
It may be, as “The People of the Secret” suggests, that a cabal of sages manages the evolution of mankind. Certainly Theosophy and other spiritual groups have promoted this perspective. It seems worth asking though whether the possibility of such a cabal has any actual relevance to personal spiritual development. To me, the search for secrets seems likely to foster greed, and the supposed discovery of secret knowledge seems likely to foster a sense of pride. Pride and greed are significant barriers to spiritual development.
“The People of the Secret” is a powerful lesson about how the mind jumps to conclusions in the absence of hard evidence. The book also provides a test of whether one can encounter its contents without allowing greed and pride to take over. To me, this is its real value.
Thanks for creating this forum for discussing such matters.
Appreciate your reply, Neil, and your shared observations. I have also found benefit in the works of Rene Guenon, especially in his critique of the materialist world - the 'realm of quantity' - that would seem even more pertinent in our current times. As you say, his work is not for everyone, and a certain 'attendance of mind' is necessary to unwrap his work. The 'Traditionalist' cadre referred to the lineage as a 'Perennial Philosophy' which, as their work showed, emphasized a certain intellectual strain. For this reason, some people may find it 'dry' or 'high-minded'. Yet I would concur that it is certainly an antidote to much of the fluffy thinking of the 'commercial spiritual' marketplace. For this reason, I find that the corpus of Idries Shah is compatible for some modern readers as it takes a more psychological approach.
Your comments on 'People of the Secret' are indeed valid; for it would be easy to label such material as 'pseudo-Theosophical' with its suggestions of 'secret teachers.' Yet there is also enough material, indications (and footnotes) to allow the discerning reader to make their own investigations, and journey. And it is this broad canvas approach of PotS that can provide tools and imagination for any aspiring seeker - albeit a seeker that is already of balanced mind and disposition. As in all things, a person is called upon to display a modicum of discernment. And for any 'modern seeker' (to use this parlance), such discernment is perhaps the least price of admission...
Thanks again for your comments - and I would welcome any reading suggestions that you may care to share.
Hard right now, to inject humor into this world, especially in America. We'll continue to try. One puts on a poor me face, people say there, there. An angry face, don't take it all too seriously. A comical one, could lead to a stoning. Cleese has been shut down and blocked in trying to make a musical of The Life of Brian, Lenihan a musical of Father Ted. If text crime is coming, thought crime - not too far away, then comedy is cowering, inhaling asbestos, up in all our metaphorical attics. We've laugh tracked our lives away. We don't know what's funny anymore. We look to the the current commentator for the mass approved acceptable giggle. Shine on the Kingsely man, so shines a good deed in a weary world.
The socio-cultural circumstances are making it harder for humour because humour deconstructs and destabilizes the ruling power base... mockery has always been used as a tool against oppressors... all the more reason to keep humour alive... if we cannot widely distribute it then we keep it rolling amongst ourselves ;-) All wild humour can apply - approved giggles can bugger off! :-)
I enjoyed this-these- for many reasons! The truth of them certainly, but more, the irreverence! And the sly digs at sanctimony, of which we have a superfluidity right now!
Yup to all of those.... we all need a laugh, if not at least to give the jaw some exercise...I find that my jaw sometimes gets stuck in the mornings so I often need a drink of castor oil mixed with hot chillies (the chillies are for my other mouth, btw)
This material is certainly important for people to know. Much of it seems to be taken almost verbatim from Idries Shah's book "Special Illumination: Examining the role and place of humour in Sufi thought," and interested readers may want to investigate Mr. Shah's other writings. They are all available online for free from the Idries Shah Foundation.
The notion that humans are "evolving" metaphysically is common to a great deal of "perennial" literature today. Readers may wish to consult writings from the "Traditionalist" school, such as Rene Guenon's "Crisis of the Modern World" from 1927, or "The Reign of Quantity & the Signs of the Times" from 1945, for a quite different perspective. Such writings discuss mankind's cyclical devolution from spiritual to materialist states and the implications and consequences of this devolution. Many cultural traditions speak of their own devolution from a former Golden age. It is modern hubris that imagines such tales are mere fables. English translations of Guenon's writings are available free on the Internet.
The now frequent claims of "conscious evolution" attribute to Man what is God's to decide. Such claims invert metaphysical truth, and are inevitable as this cycle collapses into total materialism.
Thanks Neil - pertinent observations. Yes, the work of Idries Shah has been a large influence on my own direction here. And like you say, I would encourage interested readers to seek out more of Shah's work (which I indicated in the 'Suggested Reading' at the end of the book). There is some correspondence to the 'Perennial Tradition' of the Traditionalists like Rene Guenon, but Guenon could not be described as really having much of a sense of humour, and I find the Traditionalists quite dry in their approach, hence I have focused on a more contemporary line of enquiry.... I would also suggest a reading of 'The People of the Secret' by Ernest Scott.
Guenon's work is certainly not laden with humor. Of course, being able to appreciate humor does not mean one's works should necessarily involve humor. Guenon was likely a Sufi, and Sufi writing and work tends to be instrumental. If humor had been important to his objectives, presumably Guenon would have used it.
I agree that many readers would find Traditionalist writing "dry." As far as I can tell, much of this writing was not intended for the average person, but for those prepared for the message. Personally I have found Guenon's, Schuon's, and Burkhardt's writings challenging but insightful. They are a breath of fresh air in the stagnant world of New Age magical thinking.
Thank you for the book suggestion. I have read "The People of the Secret," and I agree that it is worth reading, but my reasons may differ from your own.
The very use of the word "secret" in the title suggests who the target audience is-- people eager for secret knowledge. Such people are often also fascinated by reports of miracles, extrasensory perception, and ecstatic states brought on by hallucinogens. Such interests are not wrong, but too strong a focus on such things stifles metaphysical growth.
The book itself presents a great deal of information that purports to be historical fact. Unfortunately, it is quite difficult to prove much of anything about history using conventional reason. The whole process of historical investigation is hopelessly biased because researchers can only work with what they can find, and often lack context for what they do find. The book itself admits that it is speculative. Essentially "The People of the Secret" reports a broad range of informational tidbits-- gossip-- about people and secret societies but necessarily leaves many details out. Confronting this field of information without detail, the human mind eagerly elaborates, and attributes motives by speculating.
It does seem true that Sufis, in the sense discussed at length by Idries Shah, have historically worked to broaden perspectives within the communities they lived in. Their actions may well be the origin of the “impulses” discussed in “The People of the Secret.” One Sufic objective has been to break down rigid points of view, which the Sufis characterize as a form of idol worship-- fixed ideas being the idols. Sufi work was not aimed at the “evolution of mankind” per se, but rather, the preparation of individuals for the possibility of spiritual development and learning.
It may be, as “The People of the Secret” suggests, that a cabal of sages manages the evolution of mankind. Certainly Theosophy and other spiritual groups have promoted this perspective. It seems worth asking though whether the possibility of such a cabal has any actual relevance to personal spiritual development. To me, the search for secrets seems likely to foster greed, and the supposed discovery of secret knowledge seems likely to foster a sense of pride. Pride and greed are significant barriers to spiritual development.
“The People of the Secret” is a powerful lesson about how the mind jumps to conclusions in the absence of hard evidence. The book also provides a test of whether one can encounter its contents without allowing greed and pride to take over. To me, this is its real value.
Thanks for creating this forum for discussing such matters.
Appreciate your reply, Neil, and your shared observations. I have also found benefit in the works of Rene Guenon, especially in his critique of the materialist world - the 'realm of quantity' - that would seem even more pertinent in our current times. As you say, his work is not for everyone, and a certain 'attendance of mind' is necessary to unwrap his work. The 'Traditionalist' cadre referred to the lineage as a 'Perennial Philosophy' which, as their work showed, emphasized a certain intellectual strain. For this reason, some people may find it 'dry' or 'high-minded'. Yet I would concur that it is certainly an antidote to much of the fluffy thinking of the 'commercial spiritual' marketplace. For this reason, I find that the corpus of Idries Shah is compatible for some modern readers as it takes a more psychological approach.
Your comments on 'People of the Secret' are indeed valid; for it would be easy to label such material as 'pseudo-Theosophical' with its suggestions of 'secret teachers.' Yet there is also enough material, indications (and footnotes) to allow the discerning reader to make their own investigations, and journey. And it is this broad canvas approach of PotS that can provide tools and imagination for any aspiring seeker - albeit a seeker that is already of balanced mind and disposition. As in all things, a person is called upon to display a modicum of discernment. And for any 'modern seeker' (to use this parlance), such discernment is perhaps the least price of admission...
Thanks again for your comments - and I would welcome any reading suggestions that you may care to share.
Hard right now, to inject humor into this world, especially in America. We'll continue to try. One puts on a poor me face, people say there, there. An angry face, don't take it all too seriously. A comical one, could lead to a stoning. Cleese has been shut down and blocked in trying to make a musical of The Life of Brian, Lenihan a musical of Father Ted. If text crime is coming, thought crime - not too far away, then comedy is cowering, inhaling asbestos, up in all our metaphorical attics. We've laugh tracked our lives away. We don't know what's funny anymore. We look to the the current commentator for the mass approved acceptable giggle. Shine on the Kingsely man, so shines a good deed in a weary world.
The socio-cultural circumstances are making it harder for humour because humour deconstructs and destabilizes the ruling power base... mockery has always been used as a tool against oppressors... all the more reason to keep humour alive... if we cannot widely distribute it then we keep it rolling amongst ourselves ;-) All wild humour can apply - approved giggles can bugger off! :-)
I enjoyed this-these- for many reasons! The truth of them certainly, but more, the irreverence! And the sly digs at sanctimony, of which we have a superfluidity right now!
Yep - if you cannot have a dig at sanctimony then why dig at all - unless you're digging for treasure, in which case I claim 25% inspiration fee....
There’s no Fool like an Old Fool… 🤔
There's no oldie like a golden oldie ;-)
good humour shifts the vibe of anything.
Comdey is a set rule of humour.
Riffing is spontaneity in perfect irony and context.
Jokes are the words said in Jest.
We all need a laugh
Yup to all of those.... we all need a laugh, if not at least to give the jaw some exercise...I find that my jaw sometimes gets stuck in the mornings so I often need a drink of castor oil mixed with hot chillies (the chillies are for my other mouth, btw)