JOURNEYS WITH A SUFI MASTER

Bashir M. Dervish
edited by A.L. Griffiths

Octagon Press, London, 1982, 1987

Bashir Dervish describes his ordinary life: married, three children in good schools, relatively well known in his field, a promising career in the civil service. Then the death of his father-in-law left Dervish with an unexpected inheritance, and the request that he dedicate himself to the 'holy search for Truth.'

Partly out of curiosity about his father-in-law, Dervish took up the challenge. He first assessed the 'visible' spiritual groups, found nothing he could take seriously, and turned to an elder statesman for advice. He was eventually sent to Idries Shah and on a remarkable journey through India, Greece, Yemen and the Gulf. Dervish's riveting account gives us unparalleled insights into who the Sufis really are, what they say and do, and their effect on the modern world.