Then all the other birds, in their ignorance, brought forth a multitude of excuses. Each offered some foolish excuse; yet none uttered it within the assembly, but only upon the threshold. If I do not repeat to thee the excuses of all these birds, forgive me, reader, for it would be too long. Each had but one poor excuse to offer; how, then, could such birds clasp the Simurgh in their talons?
He who prefers the Simurgh to his own life must valiantly fight against himself. When one has not thirty grains in one’s nest, one may well not be enamoured of the Simurgh. Since thou hast no gizzard fit to digest grain, couldst thou be the Simurgh’s companion in fasting? When thou hast scarcely tasted wine, how wilt thou drink a great cup of it, O paladin? If thou hast no more energy and strength than an atom, how wilt thou find the treasure of the sun? Since thou canst drown in an imperceptible drop of water, how wilt thou journey from the depths of the sea to the celestial heights? This is a real thing, and no mere scent! This is no matter for those whose face is not pure.
He who prefers the Simurgh to his own life must valiantly fight against himself. When one has not thirty grains in one’s nest, one may well not be enamoured of the Simurgh. Since thou hast no gizzard fit to digest grain, couldst thou be the Simurgh’s companion in fasting? When thou hast scarcely tasted wine, how wilt thou drink a great cup of it, O paladin? If thou hast no more energy and strength than an atom, how wilt thou find the treasure of the sun? Since thou canst drown in an imperceptible drop of water, how wilt thou journey from the depths of the sea to the celestial heights? This is a real thing, and no mere scent! This is no matter for those whose face is not pure.
When all the birds had understood what was at issue, they again addressed the hoopoe in these terms: “Thou who takest upon thyself to lead us along the Way, thou who art the best and mightiest of birds, know that we are all weak and powerless, without down or feathers, without body or strength; how shall we at last reach the sublime Simurgh? Our arrival in His presence would be a miracle. Tell us with whom this wondrous Being bears some likeness; for otherwise, blind as we are, we could not seek this mystery. If there were some kinship between this Being and us, we should feel inclined to go towards Him; but we see in Him Solomon, and we are the beggar ant. Consider what He is and what we are: how shall the insect confined at the bottom of the well rise up to the great Simurgh? Shall kingship be the beggar’s portion? Can this come to pass with the little strength we have?”
The hoopoe replied: “O birds without ambition! How could a generous love arise from a heart devoid of feeling? This sort of begging, in which you seem to delight, will bring you no result. Love is not compatible with a lack of feeling. He who loves with open eyes advances towards his goal, playing with his life. Know that when the Simurgh reveals His face, as bright as the sun, from beyond the veil, He casts thousands of shadows upon the earth; then He turns His gaze upon those pure shadows. Thus He spreads His shadow over the world, and then there appear at every
At this instant, there are many birds. The different species of birds that we see in the world are therefore nothing but the shadow of the Simorgh. Know this well, O ignorant ones! As soon as you know it, you will understand exactly what relation you bear to the Simorgh. Behold this mystery with intelligence, but do not divulge it. He who has acquired this knowledge is submerged in the immensity of the Simorgh; but let us beware of saying on that account that he is God. If you become what I have said, you will not be God, but you will be submerged in God for ever. Is a man thus submerged thereby a transubstantiation? And can what I say on this subject be considered superfluous? Since you know whose shadow you are, you must be indifferent to living or dying. If the Simorgh had not wished to manifest Himself outwardly, He would not have cast His shadow; had He wished to remain hidden, His shadow would never have appeared in the world. Everything that is manifested by His shadow thus comes visibly to pass. If you have not an eye fit to behold the Simorgh, neither will you have a heart shining like a mirror, fit to reflect Him. It is true that there is no eye capable of admiring this beauty, or of understanding it; one cannot love the Simorgh as one loves temporal beauties; but, out of an excess of goodness, He has made a mirror in which to reflect Himself. The mirror is the heart. Look into the heart, and there you will see His image.
THE CHARMING KING.
There was a charming and incomparable king in the world of beauty. The true dawn was a flash from His face, the angel Gabriel an emanation of His fragrance. The realm of His beauty was the Koran of His mysteries, and His eyes were its verses, by their allure. I know not whether anyone had ever had the strength to bear the sight of this prince of such perfect beauty. Be that as it may, the whole world was filled with His renown, and His love was keenly felt by every creature. Sometimes He would drive His steed through the street, His face covered by a rose-coloured veil; but those who looked upon this veil had their heads severed from their bodies, though they were innocent; and those who spoke His name had their tongues cut out at once. Thus whoever thought of having relations with Him thereby inevitably consigned his spirit and soul to the wind. In a single day a thousand people would die of the grief caused by His love. Such is love and its consequence.
There was a charming and incomparable king in the world of beauty. The true dawn was a flash from His face, the angel Gabriel an emanation of His fragrance. The realm of His beauty was the Koran of His mysteries, and His eyes were its verses, by their allure. I know not whether anyone had ever had the strength to bear the sight of this prince of such perfect beauty. Be that as it may, the whole world was filled with His renown, and His love was keenly felt by every creature. Sometimes He would drive His steed through the street, His face covered by a rose-coloured veil; but those who looked upon this veil had their heads severed from their bodies, though they were innocent; and those who spoke His name had their tongues cut out at once. Thus whoever thought of having relations with Him thereby inevitably consigned his spirit and soul to the wind. In a single day a thousand people would die of the grief caused by His love. Such is love and its consequence.
To behold manifestly the beauty of this prince, men willingly gave their lives and died, persuaded that it was better to die of passion for the face of this charming being than to live a hundred long lives far from him. No one could resign himself to patience where he was concerned; no one had the strength. Men perished in searching for him; a strange thing! They could neither bear his presence nor do without him. Yet, if anyone could endure his sight for a moment, the king would then reveal his face; as for those who lacked the courage to look upon him, they contented themselves with the pleasure of hearing him. No one was worthy of him, and all died with hearts full of the grief his love caused them. The king therefore had a mirror made, so that they might look upon his face indirectly. The king’s palace was suitably arranged, and the mirror was placed there. The king would go to the upper part of the palace and gaze into the mirror; his face would then be reflected in it, and everyone could see him.
Likewise, if thou cherishest the beauty of thy friend, know that thy heart is its mirror. Take thy heart and contemplate His beauty therein; make of thy soul a mirror wherein to behold the radiance of thy friend. He is thy king in the castle of glory, and this castle is illumined by the sun of that beauty. Behold thy king in thine own heart; see His throne in an atom. Every appearance that is revealed to thee in the desert must truly be for thee the mysterious shadow of the Simurgh. If He had revealed His beauty to thee, thou wouldst recognize it in His shadow. Whether there be thirty birds (si-morg), or forty, all that thou seest is the shadow of the Simurgh. The Simurgh is not distinct from His shadow: to maintain the contrary is not to speak the truth; both exist together. Seek them, then, united; or rather, leave the shadow, and thou shalt then discover the secret. If fortune were with thee, thou wouldst see the sun in this shadow: but if thou wert to lose Him in this shadow, how couldst thou attain the Simurgh Himself? If, on the contrary, thou discoverest that the shadow is lost in the sun, then shalt thou see that thou thyself art the sun.
ANECDOTE ON ALEXANDER.
It is said that once the fortunate Alexander, king of the world, instead of sending an ambassador, himself donned the insignia of his envoys and thus went secretly to discharge the office he had undertaken. Then he said, as though sent by Alexander, what everyone knew nothing of. No one in the universe ever knew that this ambassador was Alexander of Greece. Since everyone did not know Alexander, they would not have believed him had he said that he was Alexander.
The king knows a way to reach every heart; but there is no way that leads to the errant heart. If the king seems not to know of Thy cell, grieve not, since thou knowest that He truly dwells therein.
MAHMÛD AND AYÂZ
It is said that once the fortunate Alexander, king of the world, instead of sending an ambassador, himself donned the insignia of his envoys and thus went secretly to discharge the office he had undertaken. Then he said, as though sent by Alexander, what everyone knew nothing of. No one in the universe ever knew that this ambassador was Alexander of Greece. Since everyone did not know Alexander, they would not have believed him had he said that he was Alexander.
The king knows a way to reach every heart; but there is no way that leads to the errant heart. If the king seems not to know of Thy cell, grieve not, since thou knowest that He truly dwells therein.
MAHMÛD AND AYÂZ
Ayaz, having been saddened by the evil eye, was at last placed far from the court of Sultan Mahmûd. In his despondency, he stretched himself upon the bed of lamentation, and fell into affliction, sorrow, and dejection. When the news reached Mahmûd, and he thus learned the truth, he called a servant: “Go,” said he, “to Ayaz, and address these words to him: ‘O thou who hast been disgraced by the king! Here are his own words: “I am far from thee and thy charming face; therefore I feel pain and sorrow. I know well that thou art sad, but I know not which of us is sadder, thou or I. Though my body is far from thy intimate company, my loving soul is with thee. O thou who lovest me! I am thy very soul; I am not absent from thee for a single instant. The evil eye has wrought great harm, since it has saddened one as charming as thou.”’” Thus spoke the king; then he added, addressing his servant: “Go with all speed, like flame and smoke; do not stop on the way, beware; go like water, and like the lightning that precedes thunder. If thou delayest even a little on the way, I shall make both worlds narrow for thee.”
The servant, troubled, set out and soon arrived like the wind at Ayâz’s; but he found the king seated before his slave. His penetrating mind was troubled; a trembling seized his body, and he seemed to be in the grip of the utmost anguish. For he said to himself: “What a misfortune it is to be bound to the service of the king! He will surely shed my blood today.” — “I swear,” said the servant then, “that I have remained neither seated nor standing in any place; and I have no idea at all how the king could have arrived here before me. Does the king believe me, or does he not? If I have in any way failed in my duty, I acknowledge myself unfaithful.” — “Thou art not mahram in this matter,” replied Mahmûd; “how couldst thou have traversed the road as I did? I have a secret path by which to reach Ayâz, because I cannot go a moment without seeing him. I may wish to receive news of Ayâz outwardly; but behind the curtain I know where I stand concerning him. Whether I ask old men or young men for news of what concerns him, my soul is nonetheless truly united with him.”