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Sitaram · Site Admin Joined: 14 Sep 2005 Posts: 1079

http://sulekha.com/chpost.asp?for...ilosophy&show=0&cid=84397

http://www.superluminal.com/cookbook/gallery_conference.html

http://www.pangeaworldtheater.org/COB/story.html

Come, you lost atoms, to your Center draw

And be the eternal mirror you saw;

Rays that have wander'd into Darkness wide

Return and back your sun subside.

— Farid ud-Din Attar

Conference of the Birds

"Attar, along with Chaucer and Dante, is a great genius of community
and how that involves the path towards enlightenment. We are these
bird-beings searching for the source of what we are together."

— Coleman Barks

In a play on the Persian word Simorgh (Phoenix) the story concludes
with Si-Morgh (thirty birds) realizing that the Phoenix is nothing
more than those birds themselves who persevered and endured the path
through Self-sacrifice and steadfastness.

The Conference of the Birds metaphorically maps out the journey of
the human spirit in its quest for truth. The story begins when the
birds of the world gather together to seek out their King. They are
told by their leader, the hoopoe, that they have a King whose name is
the Simorgh but that he lives far away and the journey to him is
fraught with dangers. The birds, each of whom symbolize human
faculties, are at first anxious to begin their search, but when they
realize how hazardous the journey is, they begin to make excuses. The
nightingale, that aspect of self caught in the exterior form of
things, cannot leave the rose, the hawk is satisfied with his
position in court waiting on earthly Kings, the sparrow is too afraid
even to set out. The hoopoe, the symbol of inspiration, persuades
them to continue their search despite the hardship. The group
formally adopts the hoopoe as its leader. Once the journey has begun
the birds ask questions about its course, like the pupil asking the
guru or spiritual guide (hoopoe) questions. The hoopoe answers using
illustrative anecdotes and stories. The birds then cross seven
valleys—Search, Love, Insight into Mystery, Detachment/Independence,
Unity, Bewilderment, and Fulfillment in Annihilation. At the end of
the quest, the birds find that the Simorgh has been with them,
guiding them from within throughout the journey. The King they sought
was non other than themselves. The goal of teh Quest is the Self. The
moment that they discover this depends on a pun: thirty (si) birds
(morgh) are left at the end of the Way and the si morgh meet the
Simorgh, the goal of the quest.

Attar was a Persian Sufi of the 12th century and his masterpiece is
The Conference of the Birds, an epic allegory of the seeker's journey
to God. When all the birds of the world convene and determine that
they lack a king, one bird steps forward and offers to lead them to a
great and mighty monarch. Initially excited, each bird falters in
turn, whereupon the leader admonishes them with well-targeted
parables. These pithy tales are the delight of this 4,500-line poem,
translated deftly into rhymed couplets. What is your excuse for not
seeking God? Your life is fine already? You prefer material pleasure?
You are holy enough? You have pride, lack courage, or are burdened
with responsibility? Attar has an answer to encourage you on the path
to the promised land. And when you get there, the king may not be
what you'd expect, but you must make the journey to see

This book is about birds who set out on a voyage to find God (the
Simorgh). Using a number of parables and metaphors, the author uses
the voyage as a process of self discovery. In the voyage, many birds
fall by the wayside, while their leader questions them why they are
giving up; these questions are the same questions, in theory,
everyone should be asking themselves.

As a comparison, Paulo Coelho's The Alchemist has some similar
lessons (such as seeking oneself), but Farid's work is much more
subtle and interesting from the point of view of allegories and
symbolism

In a very subtle way another book, "Journey to the East," by great
German novelist Hermann Hesse is a reflection on this poem, specially
when thirty birds reaching destination find that Simrogh was nobody
but themselves.

The Conference of the Birds is Farid Uddi Attar poem about all the
birds in the world coming together and setting off on a journey to
find their god. Not all the birds wish to make the trip, many quit
the journey or die trying -- the birds display all-too-human
frailties in their quest -- and the few that survive trial after
trial have much -- too much almost -- to comprehend of the nature of
god. The actors portray these birds, strutting, pecking, flying, and
Hayes' cast dutifully and wholeheartedly works to enact her images of
birds in flight, birds at roost, birds engaged in philosophical
discussion. But the images gradually become homogeneous; didactic
tales within the story take on a vague similarity and lose impact;
the six parts of the play blend until they seem indistinguishable --
and long.

http://www.opus125.org/ostovany/conference_of_the_birds/

Conference of the Birds series is based on the Sufl fable by the same
name by Farideddin Attar, 12th century Persian mystic. Attar's verse
focuses on a flock of birds who, In time of chaos and darkness,
decide they are In need of a King - Thus begins their quest for the
Phoenix (Simorgh) - an allegorical visit to seven valleys. After
enduring Increasing hardships, doubt and exhaustion set in and more
and more birds give up the quest. In a play on the Persian word
Simorgh (Phoenix) they end up with Si-Morgh (thirty birds) realizing
that the Phoenix is nothing more than those birds themselves who
persevered and endured the path through Self-sacrifice and
steadfastness.

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