Idries Shah Quotes

The man who is deeply discontented with himself is probably growing fast into the full likeness of Christ.

Spiritual transformation is not a matter of trying harder, but of training wisely.

God’s priority isn’t your destination but your development. God’s priority isn’t the dream but the dreamer.

The spirit knows that its growth is the real aim of existence.

Books are only made so that they may point the way to a higher life; but no good results unless the path is trodden with unflinching steps!

What the purpose of my life is about is I want to become the kind of person that God wants me to become, and through my study of the scriptures, I can articulate the kind of person that God would be happy if I become.

I'm on a missionary journey to become the best version of myself.

Sometimes I attract roles that are necessary either for personal growth or enlightenment.

I prefer stories about people who are, in a sense, trying to find better versions of themselves.

Life is growth. If we stop growing, technically and spiritually, we are as good as dead.

Every good man progressively becomes God. To become God, to be man, and to educate oneself, are expressions that are synonymous.

This goal can and must be attained in this life. But even if this does not happen, remember that he who has found the way once, always returns to this world with an internal maturity that enables him to continue his work.

Work is spiritual. It is a place where we have the opportunity for spiritual growth. Often, these opportunities come from the 'how' of the ways we do our work rather than the 'what' of the work itself.

The great solution to all human problems is individual inner transformation.

We will not find the inner strength to evolve to a higher level if we do not inwardly develop this profound feeling that there is something higher than ourselves.

I find that my upbringing in the Church and my relationship with God are huge benefits to me in helping me become the kind of person that I want to become.

I'm not big on faith rules, but if I had to choose one, it would be that every person must choose a faith issue upon which to hang her hat that requires her to change - not somebody else.

Things have changed. Now it's not the outward appearance, it's the inward man that I'm trying to change. And that's the message I bring to the people.

The outward freedom that we shall attain will only be in exact proportion to the inward freedom to which we may have grown at a given moment. And if this is a correct view of freedom, our chief energy must be concentrated on achieving reform from within.

Build thee more stately mansions, O my soul, As the swift seasons roll! Leave thy low-vaulted past! Let each new temple, nobler than the last, Shut thee from heaven with a dome more vast, Till thou at length art free, Leaving thine outgrown shell by life's unresting sea!

Discard yourself and thereby regain yourself. Spread the trap of humility and ensnare love.

The ultimate reason for meditating is to transform ourselves in order to be better able to transform the world or, to put it another way, to transform ourselves so we can become better human beings in order to serve others in a wiser and more efficient way. It gives your life the noblest possible meaning.

We are fighting the greatest battle of all time with the most untrained army on earth. If strict discipline is necessary in art and athletics, how can we expect to be advanced Christians and stay in kindergarten?

There is no man that lives who does not need to be drilled, disciplined, and developed into something higher and nobler and better than he is by nature. Life is one prolonged birth.

The sufis believe that they can experience something more complete.