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He was accused of heresy, his goods were plunderedand he was forced into exile. One can imagineeach of them forming miniature tales and sermons.Long, spiritual allegories can make pretty tough reading,but the episodic nature of Conference makes it a book tobe enjoyed in snippets. Keep it at the bedside or whereveryou enjoy a literary nibble.It's interesting to note that worldly, human Attar came to abad end. . Can we hope for a better outcomethis time.--Lynn Hoffman, author of THE NEW SHORT COURSE IN WINE andthe forthcoming novel bang BANG from Kunati Books.ISBN 9781601640005 The hoopoe who was the messenger of King Solomonserves as the Cicero on the quest. it is instructive and corrective to have a glimpse ofwhat was: a lyrical, medeivalist tradition that saw the denialof the self as a path to union with the infinite.Just as it's important to be aware of the gently lasciviousOmar Khayyam as an antidote to today's puritanism, it's alsoworthwhile to remember Farid ud-Din Attar a cosmopolitan skepticwhose tolerance of human frailty is in service of loftyspiritual aims.The Conference of the Birds is an allegory of the search forthe divine. The allegory is told inshort snippets, stories of doubt, fear and faith.
A fairly substantial introduction helps put the book in context and describes what is known of Attar's life and times. The Hoopoe acts as the guide and provides answers to the bird's questions and doubts about the journey - usually with short illustrative tales. It is definitely worth the read for members of any faith, even those who aren't practicing Sufis. A Sufi teacher chastises them for their lack of faith and eventually they return to his side.
Attar's beautiful descpriptions, exqisite metaphors and delightful parables describe the stages on the soul's journey to union with God. This book is a beautiful little gem, filled with a lot of wisdom. The writings of the Sufis are, without a doubt, some of the most beautiful and challenging spiritual works in existence. Rumi's works are currently undergoing something of a renaissance in the Western world but the name of Farid Ud-Din Attar is not as well known. These tales are each tiny drops of gold, the longest being only a few hundred lines. His apostasy and depravity astound his followers who swiftly abandon him.
A biographical index is included which provides details on the many characters - often historical - who people the pages of the poem. Sam'an then reconverts and his love is converted too. Some of the stories may shock our sensibilities, and no doubt had the same effect on Attar's medieval audiences. It at first seems a little stilted but soon lends a beauty of its own to the work. The overarching theme is the denial of the self to gain ultimate bliss. A kind of counter-culture attitude is displayed in the book, with tales of romantic love between men and other "un-Islamic" behaviours challenging accepted norms.As to the book itself, the translation is done in "heroic couplets" which according to the introduction, best suits the style of the arabic original. This is unfortunate, since The Conference of the Birds provides, in my opinion, a much better insight into Sufi philosophy than the bits and pieces of Rumi floating about the New Age universe.
The message would seem to be that to find God it may be necessary to abandon conventional notions of behaviour and faith and plunge forward with wild abandon, losing the self. In the extended tale of Sheik Sam'an, the Sheik leaves his faith and becomes a Christian for the love of a woman who ultimately spurns him. An extended metaphor for the soul, the birds gather and travel through various valleys to reach the Simorgh - a state of ectstatic oneness with deity. This is no intellectual exercise and much of the advice given is shocking and revolutionary.
The individual birds on this journey come to life for the reader and the 13th century narrative literally takes off. I can't compare this poem to the original Farsi as I don't read that language, but this translation is amazingly readable. The reader gets enough notes and extra information to understand a bit of the context, but it never interferes with immersing oneself in this allegory of the journey toward union with the divine beloved.
The book has the capacity to transform the mindsets of fidels and infidels alike to become the master of one's own persona. The wonderful philosophy of Attar has the potential to change the world from greed, violence and chaos to self-discipline, love and peace. The book is a must read for anyone interested to know oneself and the world. This book is a masterpiece on spirituality, self-search, self-identity and self-realization. It provides an unparallel and wonderful guide for reaching to oneself and God.
A must in the collection of any sincere seeker of the Creator. Dick Davis's translation is more than extraordinary -- it is truly a miracle to see the beauty, eloquence and flow of this masterpiece richly rendered into the English language with rhyme and meter.
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