''A Perfumed Scorpion'' is a non-fiction book by the Sufist writer,

Idries Shah Idries Shah (; hi, इदरीस शाह, ps, ادريس شاه, ur, ; 16 June 1924 – 23 November 1996), also known as Idris Shah, né Sayed Idries el- Hashimi (Arabic: سيد إدريس هاشمي) and by the pen name Arko ...

, that was first published by

Octagon Press Octagon Press was a cross-cultural publishing house based in London, UK. It was founded in 1960 by Sufism, Sufi teacher, Idries Shah to establish the historical and cultural context for his ideas. The company ceased trading in 2014. Description ...

in 1978, the same year that he published two other major works: '' Learning How to Learn: Psychology and Spirituality in the Sufi Way'' and ''

The Hundred Tales of Wisdom ''The Hundred Tales of Wisdom'' is a translation from the Persian by Idries Shah of the "Life, Teachings and Miracles of Jalaludin Rumi" from Aflaki’s '' Munaqib'', together with certain important stories from Rumi’s own works, traditionally ...

''. It has since been republished by

The Idries Shah Foundation The Idries Shah Foundation (ISF) is an independent educational and Culture, cultural Charitable organization, charity, set up by the family of the late thinker, writer, and teacher in the Sufism, Sufi mysticism, mystical tradition, Idries Shah, w ...

. Shortly before he died, Shah stated that his books form a complete course that could fulfill the function he had fulfilled while alive. As such, ''A Perfumed Scorpion'' can be read as part of a whole course of study.Shah, Tahir, ''In Arabian Nights: A Caravan of Moroccan Dreams''. New York, NY: Bantam. pp. 215–216.

Summary

The book contains the substance of lectures given by the author at various universities in the United States under the aegis of the

Institute for the Study of Human Knowledge The Institute for the Study of Human Knowledge (ISHK) is a non-profit educational charityISHK is a 501(c)3 educational corporation, incorporated in the State of California. Federal Tax ID #94-1705600. and publisher established in 1969 by the psyc ...

and the Graduate Institute of International Studies,

Fairleigh Dickinson University Fairleigh Dickinson University is a private university with its main campuses in the U.S. state of New Jersey. Founded in 1942, Fairleigh Dickinson University currently offers more than 100 degree programs to its students. In addition to its tw ...

. The "perfuming of a scorpion" is a reference to a symbol used by Bahaudin Naqshband of Bukhara when he taught about the ubiquitous problem of hypocrisy and self-deception in both individuals and institutions: "Whoever might perfume a scorpion will not thereby escape its sting". The seven sections of the book deal in depth with this issue under headings such as Education, The Nature of Sufi Knowledge, The Path and the Duties and the Techniques, Teaching Stories, A framework for New Knowledge and Involvement in Sufi Study. Each section contains numerous illustrative anecdotes from contemporary life but is nevertheless rooted in the teaching patterns of

Rumi Jalāl al-Dīn Muḥammad Rūmī ( fa, جلال‌الدین محمد رومی), also known as Jalāl al-Dīn Muḥammad Balkhī (), Mevlânâ/Mawlānā ( fa, مولانا, lit= our master) and Mevlevî/Mawlawī ( fa, مولوی, lit= my ma ...

, Hafiz, Jami, and other great Oriental sages who dealt with the need for, and the path to, knowledge and information before real progress can be made.

Reception

''A Perfumed Scorpion'' was described by one reviewer as "... an invigorating and abrasive book, like jumping into icy water - hard to do, but you're glad you have done it." This reviewer also appreciated the way it dissolves in the attentive reader “the maiming effect of unconscious bias.”''Books and Bookmen''. May 1979 The influence of the book continues and it has remained in print ever since it was published. Philosopher of

science Science is a systematic endeavor that builds and organizes knowledge in the form of testable explanations and predictions about the universe. Science may be as old as the human species, and some of the earliest archeological evidence for ...

and physicist

Henri Bortoft Peter Henri Bortoft (1938 – 29 December 2012) was a British independent researcher and teacher, lecturer and writer on physics and the philosophy of science. He is best known for his work ''The Wholeness of Nature'', considered a relevant and ori ...

used teaching tales from Shah's corpus as analogies of the habits of mind which prevented people from grasping the scientific method of

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (28 August 1749 – 22 March 1832) was a German poet, playwright, novelist, scientist, statesman, theatre director, and critic. His works include plays, poetry, literature, and aesthetic criticism, as well as trea ...

. Bortoft's '' The Wholeness of Nature: Goethe's Way of Science'' includes stories from ''

Tales of the Dervishes ''Tales of the Dervishes'' by Idries Shah was first published in 1967, and re-published and made available online for free by The Idries Shah Foundation in October 2016. Summary ''Tales of the Dervishes'' is a collection of stories, parables, l ...

'', '' The Exploits of the Incomparable Mulla Nasrudin'' and ''A Perfumed Scorpion''.

References

External links

The Idries Shah Foundation
{{DEFAULTSORT:Perfumed Scorpion, A Sufi literature Books by Idries Shah 1978 non-fiction books

Summary

Reception

See also

References

External links