The Conference of the Birds (Penguin) by Farid al-Din Attar

Author:Farid al-Din Attar [Attar, Farid al-Din]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9780141920955
Publisher: Penguin Books
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

One asked a sufi how he spent his time.

He said: “I’m thirsty, filthy, smeared with grime,

Burnt in this stove men call the world, but I

Shall keep my courage up until I die.”

If in this world you seek for happiness

You are asleep, your search is meaningless –

If you seek happiness you would do well

To think of that thin bridge arched over hell.*

lines 2455–72

The world’s apparent joy cannot compare

With what we seek – it isn’t worth a hair;

Here the Self rages like an unquenched fire,

And nothing satisfies the heart’s desire –

Encompass all the earth, you will not find

One happy heart or one contented mind.

A woman who wished to pray for happiness

An old, sad woman talked to Mahna’s sheikh:

“Teach me to pray for joy, for pity’s sake –

I’ve suffered so much that I cannot bear

To think of future grief – give me some prayer

To murmur every day.” The sheikh replied:

“How many years I wandered far and wide

Until I found the fortress that you seek

It is the knee, bend it, accept, be meek;

I found no other way – this remedy,

And only this, will cure your misery.”

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