Customer Reviews

The Rules or Secrets of the Naqshbandi Order

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This is one of those books which will live with you and grow with you in your spiritual time and space. After you start reading this book, its like entering a highway - You neither can slowdown nor can you stop and turn back. These rules and secrets give can help you in your long and tiring journey.

This is the first book of Omar Ali Shah that I read (I read a couple of books by Ideas Shah). Though I am new to this school, I found him to be a teacher who communicates with you one to one and addresses your very own problems.

what i noticed about this book is that the ideas are very natural. these are things you might already be doing in your life to try to get a better grasp of yourself and your life. the difference is that the sufis emphasize, clarify, accentuate-- and extrapolate from-- these basic concepts.

omar ali shah, sufi teacher and brother of author idries shah, gives his own views on these traditional naqshbandi sufi guidelines. ali-shah is casual, down-to-earth, and also subtle and experienced.

those familiar with the gurdjieff teaching should be familiar with many of these concepts, although ali-shah's ideas add an extra dimension.

This was the first of Mr. Shah's books that I bought. I found it to be rather like wine...Simple to taste, a little heady at first, but with a tendency for the full bouquet to blossom over time...
The rules are put plainly, and I found the reiteration of each point useful, as there are different levels of understanding that emerge through time and use. In fact, I found the rules to be very useful, and their application has led me to a greater sense of harmony in my daily life. I appreciated the "no-nonsense" approach, and was left with a wish to know more about this remarkable work.

I am fond of eastern practices of spirtuality and try to learn more from books which are written or preached by the masters of
paths.I noted some feature of deliverance of the knowledge which was difficult to be captured by the layman as me.
1.Master has not delivered the rules in a simple frame.May be the composing technique of the book is dictating those difficulties. The whole texts are quotations from the speech of master. If the texts had been trimmed out of repetition the teaching could be more infusive.
2.Its best side is that it has composed without falling into trap of religionism. Although the path has been stemmed up from ýslam, all rules in the book are explained without the trait of this religion. So I hope it will catch more sincere attention from the readers who come from different cultures and religions.
3.Another important aspect of the book is its handbook charachter. If a grownup one like to develope him or herself will find a very valuable guide by his or her side in the name of "the rules and secrets of the naqshibandi order"

I have read and re-read this book, and refer to it often, as it is a priceless treasure.
For the non-Sufi reader, I would remind them that Sufi texts are to be read over and over
alongside ones practice, Only then will the depth be seen. Do not expect to be led by
the hand and told to do step 1 then step 2 etc. The Tradition isn't imparted like this.
Your intellect and past conditioning will be your greatest adversary as you study works
such as this one. Omar Ali- Shah is a Master Craftsman. This book is an example of his Craft.