When all the birds had heard the hoopoe’s speech, they bowed their heads and their hearts were bleeding. They all understood that this bow, so difficult to bend, was not suited to a feeble wrist. They were therefore greatly perturbed by the hoopoe’s speech, and a good many of them even died in the place where they had assembled. As for the others, they resolved at that very moment, without yet having recovered from their astonishment, to set out. They travelled for whole years over hill and dale, and a great part of their lives passed during this journey. How can one adequately relate what befell them along the way? One would have to follow it oneself one day, to catch a glimpse of it and see its winding paths. Then one would know what these birds did; one would learn all that they suffered.
At the end, only a very small number of the whole company reached the sublime place toward which they were striving. Almost all those thousands of birds disappeared; only a few attained their goal. Some were engulfed in the Ocean, while others were annihilated and vanished. Others perished on the summit of high mountains, devoured by thirst and prey to every kind of affliction; others, by the sun’s heat, had their feathers burned and their hearts scorched like roasted meat; others were sadly devoured in an instant by the tigers and panthers along the way; others died of exhaustion in the desert, their lips parched, overwhelmed as they were by the heat. Others madly slew one another over a grain; others endured every kind of suffering and hardship, and at last remained on the road, unable to reach their goal. Others, astonished by the sight of the wonders along the way, stopped together in the same place; others, concerned only with curiosity and pleasure, perished without giving thought to the object of their quest.
Thus, hardly any of those thousands of birds attained the goal. The birds that had set out filled the whole world, yet only thirty arrived; and even they were all bewildered, without feathers or wings, weary and dejected, their hearts broken, their spirits crushed, their bodies worn out. But they beheld that majesty which cannot be described, whose essence is incomprehensible, that Being beyond the reach of human understanding and knowledge. Then the flash of contentment shone forth, and a hundred worlds were consumed in an instant. They beheld thousands of suns gathered together, each more resplendent than the last; thousands of moons and stars, all equally beautiful. They beheld all this and were astonished; they trembled like a wavering atom, and cried out: “O Thou who art wondrous as the sun! Thou whose majesty reduces it to a mere atom, how can we appear here? Ah! why have we endured so many hardships along the way in vain? We have wholly renounced ourselves, and now we cannot obtain what we hoped for. Here a hundred spheres are but an atom of dust; here it matters not whether we exist or cease to exist.”
Then all these birds, already dejected and like the half-slaughtered cock, were annihilated and reduced to nothing, until the fitting time should come. At last, in that propitious hour, a noble chamberlain, one of the great officers of the supreme majesty, suddenly appeared. He saw that, of the great number of birds who had undertaken the journey, only thirty remained: aged, without feathers or wings, dejected and with their bodies in the most dreadful condition, without heads or feet—nay, without bodies.
“O birds!” he said to them, “whence do you come, and why have you stopped here? What is your name? O you who are stripped of all! What is the usual place of your abode? What are you called in the world, and what can be done with a helpless handful of earth such as you?”
“We have come here,” they replied, “to acknowledge the Simurgh as our king. The love we feel for Him has troubled our reason. For Him, we have lost our minds and our peace. It is long since we undertook our journey. We were then thousands, and only thirty of us have arrived at this sublime court. We have come from far away, hoping to gain access to this supreme majesty. How could this king disdain the hardship we have endured? Ah, no! He will surely look upon us at last with a gracious eye.”
“O birds!” he said to them, “whence do you come, and why have you stopped here? What is your name? O you who are stripped of all! What is the usual place of your abode? What are you called in the world, and what can be done with a helpless handful of earth such as you?”
“We have come here,” they replied, “to acknowledge the Simurgh as our king. The love we feel for Him has troubled our reason. For Him, we have lost our minds and our peace. It is long since we undertook our journey. We were then thousands, and only thirty of us have arrived at this sublime court. We have come from far away, hoping to gain access to this supreme majesty. How could this king disdain the hardship we have endured? Ah, no! He will surely look upon us at last with a gracious eye.”
“O you whose heads are troubled!” the chamberlain replied to them, “you who have bathed in the blood of your hearts like the rose, whether you exist or do not exist in the universe, the king none the less exists eternally. Thousands of worlds full of creatures are like an ant at this king’s door. You have nothing but groans to make heard. Turn back, then, vile handful of earth!”
All these birds were so disheartened by this speech that they stood motionless with astonishment. Nevertheless, they said: “Will this great king cast us ignominiously back upon the road? But can ignominy come from Him upon anyone, and, if it does, is it not changed into honour?”
Madjnoun once said: “If all the inhabitants of the earth were continually to celebrate my praises, I would wish to accept them from no one; in this regard, I am content with Laïla’s insults. Indeed, one of her insults is worth more to me than a hundred compliments from another person. I prefer her name to the kingdom of the two worlds.”
All these birds were so disheartened by this speech that they stood motionless with astonishment. Nevertheless, they said: “Will this great king cast us ignominiously back upon the road? But can ignominy come from Him upon anyone, and, if it does, is it not changed into honour?”
Madjnoun once said: “If all the inhabitants of the earth were continually to celebrate my praises, I would wish to accept them from no one; in this regard, I am content with Laïla’s insults. Indeed, one of her insults is worth more to me than a hundred compliments from another person. I prefer her name to the kingdom of the two worlds.”
“I have told you, my dear, what I think. If abasement befall us, what harm will come of it?”
“The lightning of glory appears,” added the chamberlain, “and takes reason from every soul. What gain is there in the soul’s being burned by a hundred pains? What gain, at this moment, in greatness or lowliness?”
These birds, aflame with love, said further: “Our souls are devoured by fire. How can the moth escape the fire, since it delights in making its dwelling there? As for us, we wish to be annihilated by fire. If the friend we seek does not grant us union with Him, and if we cannot at present gain access to Him whom our heart desires, we cannot, however, inquire elsewhere about the way that must lead us to Him.”
“The lightning of glory appears,” added the chamberlain, “and takes reason from every soul. What gain is there in the soul’s being burned by a hundred pains? What gain, at this moment, in greatness or lowliness?”
These birds, aflame with love, said further: “Our souls are devoured by fire. How can the moth escape the fire, since it delights in making its dwelling there? As for us, we wish to be annihilated by fire. If the friend we seek does not grant us union with Him, and if we cannot at present gain access to Him whom our heart desires, we cannot, however, inquire elsewhere about the way that must lead us to Him.”
END OF THE STORY OF THE BIRDS.
All the birds of the world wished to elucidate the story of the moth. “O weak insect!” they said to him, “how long wilt thou trifle with thy noble life? Since thy union with the candle cannot take place, do not foolishly sacrifice thy life for an impossible thing.”
The moth, troubled and unhappy at this discourse, replied: “I appreciate what you tell me, but my heart is taken forever. If I cannot reach the candle, I shall at least ask it for what I need.”
All men have entered into the love of the Being par excellence, and have thus been wholly plunged into sorrow, which is its consequence.
Although satisfaction had exceeded all bounds, there was a new manifestation of celestial favour.
The chamberlain of grace came and opened the door for them, then opened a hundred more veils, one after another. Then a new world presented itself unveiled to these birds: the brightest light illuminated this manifestation. They all sat upon the masnad of proximity, upon the bench of majesty and glory. A writing was placed before them, with the words that they should read it to the end. Now this writing was to make them know, by allegory, their desolate state.
All the birds of the world wished to elucidate the story of the moth. “O weak insect!” they said to him, “how long wilt thou trifle with thy noble life? Since thy union with the candle cannot take place, do not foolishly sacrifice thy life for an impossible thing.”
The moth, troubled and unhappy at this discourse, replied: “I appreciate what you tell me, but my heart is taken forever. If I cannot reach the candle, I shall at least ask it for what I need.”
All men have entered into the love of the Being par excellence, and have thus been wholly plunged into sorrow, which is its consequence.
Although satisfaction had exceeded all bounds, there was a new manifestation of celestial favour.
The chamberlain of grace came and opened the door for them, then opened a hundred more veils, one after another. Then a new world presented itself unveiled to these birds: the brightest light illuminated this manifestation. They all sat upon the masnad of proximity, upon the bench of majesty and glory. A writing was placed before them, with the words that they should read it to the end. Now this writing was to make them know, by allegory, their desolate state.
Joseph Recognized by His Brothers.
Joseph, whom the stars adored, was sold by his ten brothers. Malik the Egyptian bought him from them at a low price; but he wanted a receipt from them. He therefore demanded this receipt from Joseph’s brothers on the spot, and had the sale certified by all ten brothers. When Egypt had in turn bought him, the fatal receipt fell into Joseph’s hands. At last, when Joseph had been invested with royal power, his ten brothers came to Egypt. They did not recognize him, and they prostrated themselves before him. They offered themselves as slaves to obtain the means of subsistence; they renounced water (honour) to have bread. Joseph the Truthful then said to them: “O men! I have in my possession a document written in the Hebrew language. No one knows how to read it; if you can decipher it, I will give you much gold.” They all indeed read Hebrew, and they replied, pleased and eager: “Sire, show us this document.”
Joseph, whom the stars adored, was sold by his ten brothers. Malik the Egyptian bought him from them at a low price; but he wanted a receipt from them. He therefore demanded this receipt from Joseph’s brothers on the spot, and had the sale certified by all ten brothers. When Egypt had in turn bought him, the fatal receipt fell into Joseph’s hands. At last, when Joseph had been invested with royal power, his ten brothers came to Egypt. They did not recognize him, and they prostrated themselves before him. They offered themselves as slaves to obtain the means of subsistence; they renounced water (honour) to have bread. Joseph the Truthful then said to them: “O men! I have in my possession a document written in the Hebrew language. No one knows how to read it; if you can decipher it, I will give you much gold.” They all indeed read Hebrew, and they replied, pleased and eager: “Sire, show us this document.”
How blind in spirit is he who, through pride, will not recognise there his own history in relation to God!
Joseph then handed them their own writing, and at once a convulsive trembling seized their bodies. They could not read a single line of that writing, nor decipher the slightest detail of it. All remained in pain and distress, preoccupied with the matter of Joseph. Their tongues suddenly fell silent, and their souls were tormented by this unfortunate incident.
“You seem confounded,” said Joseph to them; “why remain silent when it is a question of reading this writing?”
“We would rather be put to death at once,” they all replied together, “than read this writing and afterwards have our heads cut off.”
Thus, when the thirty emaciated birds had read the contents of the writing that had been handed to them for their instruction, they found therein fully recorded all that they had done.
Joseph then handed them their own writing, and at once a convulsive trembling seized their bodies. They could not read a single line of that writing, nor decipher the slightest detail of it. All remained in pain and distress, preoccupied with the matter of Joseph. Their tongues suddenly fell silent, and their souls were tormented by this unfortunate incident.
“You seem confounded,” said Joseph to them; “why remain silent when it is a question of reading this writing?”
“We would rather be put to death at once,” they all replied together, “than read this writing and afterwards have our heads cut off.”
Thus, when the thirty emaciated birds had read the contents of the writing that had been handed to them for their instruction, they found therein fully recorded all that they had done.
It was indeed very hard for Joseph’s brothers, then slaves, to have to look upon this writing. They had gone and made a long journey to find that Joseph whom they had cast into the well. They had burned Joseph’s soul in ignominy, and now they saw him shining in an eminent station.
Do you not know, then, O insignificant faquir, that at every moment you are selling a Joseph? When Joseph shall be your king, and shall be first and chief, you will end by coming before him as a hungry and naked beggar!
The souls of these birds were utterly annihilated by fear and shame, and their bodies, burned, became like dust and charcoal. When they had thus been wholly purified and freed from all things, they all found a new life in the light of the Simurgh. They thus became new servants, and were once more plunged into astonishment. All that they had formerly done was purified and even erased from their hearts. The sun of nearness shed its rays upon them, and their souls shone with its radiance. Then, in the reflection of their faces, these thirty worldly birds (si morg) beheld the face of the spiritual Simurgh. They hastened to look upon this Simurgh, and they were assured that He was none other than si morg. They all then fell into astonishment; they knew not whether they had remained themselves or whether they…
Do you not know, then, O insignificant faquir, that at every moment you are selling a Joseph? When Joseph shall be your king, and shall be first and chief, you will end by coming before him as a hungry and naked beggar!
The souls of these birds were utterly annihilated by fear and shame, and their bodies, burned, became like dust and charcoal. When they had thus been wholly purified and freed from all things, they all found a new life in the light of the Simurgh. They thus became new servants, and were once more plunged into astonishment. All that they had formerly done was purified and even erased from their hearts. The sun of nearness shed its rays upon them, and their souls shone with its radiance. Then, in the reflection of their faces, these thirty worldly birds (si morg) beheld the face of the spiritual Simurgh. They hastened to look upon this Simurgh, and they were assured that He was none other than si morg. They all then fell into astonishment; they knew not whether they had remained themselves or whether they…
They had become the Simurgh. At last they became certain that they truly were the Simurgh, and that the Simurgh was indeed the thirty birds (si morg). When they looked toward the Simurgh, they saw that it was indeed the Simurgh who was there; and if they turned their gaze toward themselves, they saw that they themselves were the Simurgh. Finally, if they looked both ways at once, they became certain that they and the Simurgh were in reality but one being. This one being was Simurgh, and Simurgh was this being. No one in the world had ever heard anything like it. Then they were all plunged into astonishment, and gave themselves up to meditation, unable to meditate. As they understood nothing of this state of affairs, they questioned the Simurgh without using their tongues; they asked Him to reveal the great secret to them, to give them the solution to the mystery of the plurality and unity of beings. Then the Simurgh, without using His tongue either, gave them this answer: “The sun of My majesty,” He said, “is a mirror; whoever comes there sees himself within it, sees his soul and body there, sees himself there in his entirety. Since you have come here as thirty birds, you find yourselves thirty birds (si morg) in this mirror. If forty or fifty birds were to come, the veil that conceals the Simurgh would likewise be lifted. Though you are utterly changed, you see yourselves as you were before.”
How could the eye of a creature ever reach Me? Can the ant’s gaze attain the Pleiades? Has this insect ever been seen lifting an anvil, or a gnat seizing an elephant in its teeth? All that you have known or seen is neither what you have known nor what you have seen, and what you have said or heard is no more that. When you crossed the valleys of the spiritual path, when you performed good works, you acted only through My action, and thus you were able to behold the valley of My essence and perfections. You, who are no more than thirty birds, may indeed have remained bewildered, impatient, and amazed; but I am worth far more than thirty birds (si morg), for I am the very essence of the true Simurgh. Annihilate yourselves, then, in Me, gloriously and blissfully, so that you may find yourselves again in Me.
The birds were indeed annihilated at last forever in the Simurgh; the shadow was lost in the sun, and that is all.
I have discoursed as long as these birds were on their way; but my discourse has now reached the point where it has neither head nor tail; therefore I must end it here. The way remains open, but there is no longer either guide or traveller.
I have discoursed as long as these birds were on their way; but my discourse has now reached the point where it has neither head nor tail; therefore I must end it here. The way remains open, but there is no longer either guide or traveller.