False masters in Sufism....
Idries Shah
As soon as possible this teacher [should dismiss] the disciple, who becomes
his own man of wisdom, and then he continues his self-work.
False masters in Sufism, as everywhere else, have not been few. So the
Sufis are left with the strange situation that whereas the false teacher
may appear to be genuine (because he takes pains to appear what the disciple
wants him to be), the true Sufi is often not like what the undiscriminating
and untrained Seeker thinks a Sufi should be like.
... The false teacher will pay great attention to appearance, and will
know how to make the Seeker think that he is a great man, that he understands
him, that he has great secrets to reveal.
... Sufism is something that happens to a person, not something which is
given to him. The false teacher will keep his followers around him all the
time, will not tell them that they are being given a training which must
end as soon as possible, [and will not give them the opportunity to] taste
their development themselves and carry on as fulfilled people.