Attar's "Conference of the Birds" - The Greatest Sufi Masterpiece?
In this video, we explore the famous persian sufi poem "Mantiq al-Tayr" or The Conference of the Birds, written by Fariduddin Attar.
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Sources/Suggested Reading:
'Attar, Fariduddin. "The Conference of the Birds". Translated by Afkham Darbandi & Dick Davis. Penguin Classics. 1984.
"Farid ad-Din 'Attar's Memorial of God's Friends: Lives and sayings of Sufis". Translated by Paul Losensky. Classics of Western Spirituality Series. Paulist Press.
Chapters:
0:00 Intro
2:36 'Attar's life
6:32 'Attar's works
8:08 Sufism
9:18 The Conference of the Birds
12:58 The Journey
16:22 Meeting the Simorgh
20:39 Legacy & Conclusions
#attar #sufism #mysticism
I am Persian from Iran living in Canada. I thank God, and I am very happy that my mother tongue language is Persian. It's absolutely a blessing from God. Farsi is the language of love.
Probably you need to thank Ferdowsi!
Nah. Farsi is only powerful because of its massive influx of Arabic words that adds depth to the language. Farsi poetry is not possible without it. All major Farsi poets used heavily Arabized words. There were no poets of the Sassanid Era.
@@xtremeownage2 Damn. Are you always this receationary? To other people's taking pride in their language, culture and history. And also where did you get that "There were no poets of the Sassanid Era" other than the fact of. Source: trust me bro! More to that, maybe it's that the more well known Sassanid poet's works didn't survive, because people like Sa'd ibn Abi Waqqas who durning the conquests wouldn't stop the large scale book burning 📖 🔥. 🤔 hmm I wonder... Source: Tarikh al-Tabari. You're welcome ;)
@@kolohaksja2260 There virtually no written literature in old Persian or Pahalvi . Persian poetry thrived after the introduction of Arabic , Islamic conquest and the Arabic script. See A Literary History of Persia by Edward G. Briwne (four vols.) After the Safavids, who forced Shi’ism on Iran, virtually no great Persian poet appeared. Firdousi was writing about Central Asia much after the Islamization of Iran and Central Asia.
@@saliksayyar9793 There are many stone scripts, and Manichean religious scriptures and old gnostic scriptures in Old Persian. There are also many business documents between Persia and India-China. All old literature were discouraged by religious fanatics. During Ferdowsi's time much of central Asia was still following Nestorian Christianity and Buddhism.
I was having a rough day. I'm very touch and go with religion but this poem about the journey of self-discovery and the sacrifices required and your relating of it to a lay person like myself was very heartening, perhaps even the wake-up call I needed. Please accept this donation with thanks and keep up the content sir.
The love of Allah, God, karma, universe, nature or whatever just gives me peace in a way I will never be able to explain. May love overcome your being and may you find the path of love of humanity.
Alhamdulilla, may God guide you toward the straight path, my friend.
Does anyone have a link to the full audiobook.
I think it would have been helpfull if you had explained that simorgh was a ficticous bird in Iranian mythology and was known long before Attar's time. This bird was also used in Ferdousi's shahnameh, the epic book of kings. Thank you.
That’s right ! Simorgh ( 30 birds ) سیمرغ
Yeah, maybe I shouldn't assume people already know that
@@LetsTalkReligion 😂
@@aemiliadelroba4022 i had a good chortle upon learning of the 30birds.
@@LetsTalkReligion My mother used to read this to us as children and I always understood the Simorgh to be God within us. I enjoyed this comment and of course, I enjoyed your video. Thank you.
It was mandatory for us to memorize some of his poetry in high school in iran
Could you kindly share some with us, thanks. Salaam
@@judbakilam یک شبی پروانگان جمع آمدند در مضیفی طالب شمع آمدند جمله می‌گفتند می‌باید یکی کو خبر آرد ز مطلوب اندکی شد یکی پروانه تا قصری ز دور در فضاء قصر یافت از شمع نور بازگشت و دفتر خود بازکرد وصف او بر قدر فهم آغاز کرد ناقدی کو داشت در جمع مهی گفت او را نیست از شمع آگهی شد یکی دیگر گذشت از نور در خویش را بر شمع زد از دور در پر زنان در پرتو مطلوب شد شمع غالب گشت و او مغلوب شد بازگشت او نیز و مشتی راز گفت از وصال شمع شرحی باز گفت ناقدش گفت این نشان نیست ای عزیز همچو آن یک کی نشان دادی تو نیز دیگری برخاست می‌شد مست مست پای کوبان بر سر آتش نشست دست درکش کرد با آتش به هم خویشتن گم کرد با او خوش به هم چون گرفت آتش ز سر تا پای او سرخ شد چون آتشی اعضای او ناقد ایشان چو دید او را ز دور شمع با خود کرده هم رنگش ز نور گفت این پروانه در کارست و بس کس چه داند، این خبر دارست و بس آنک شد هم بی‌خبر هم بی‌اثر از میان جمله او دارد خبر تا نگردی بی‌خبر از جسم و جان کی خبر یابی ز جانان یک زمان هرکه از مویی نشانت باز داد صد خط اندر خون جانت باز داد نیست محرم نفس کس این جایگاه در نگنجد هیچ کس این جایگاه
But he was a Sunni who praised Umar, Usman and Abu Bakr, whom Iranians (and Shias in general), curse all the time!
How wonderful!
You have a great memory mate 😂👍🏼
It's nice to see someone talking religion in a sensible way. Thank you.
Like a true historian.
I am an Iranian living in Canada, and I do speak Persian. I haven't read the entire book in Persian, but only bits and pieces, but let me tell you and other non-Persian speaking fellas: everytime in the video that you recited a part of the English translation, it so resonated with me that I literally had goosebumps, and I genuinely felt a very similar emotion I usually experience when I read it in Persian. Thank you so much for creating this amazing content, also thanks for suggusting this brilliant translation by Dick Davis.
Farsi; perhaps the most beautiful language in humanity. It far outweights Parisian French, in my humble opinion anyway, in eloquence.
Well, without Arabic words , Farsi language won’t be exited today .
@@hashimalzarooni9179 You're replying with this none sense under every single comment. Yes modern Persian has some Arabic loan words which was the result of the brutal Islamic conquest of Persia and the campaign to eradicate the language. Still, Persian culture far predates the Arabs. Cyrus the Great was laying down the first charter of human rights far before the lizard eating, camel piss drinking Arab bedouins came to prominence. Even the Arabic language is itself beholden to Persians considering that the foundational book for its grammar was written by Sibawayh who was a Persian grammarian. Without Persians, modern day Arabic wouldn't be what it is today.
You're absolutely right: it is truly impossible to give justice to the Conference of the Birds such is the beauty of its profound spiritual message. To me, alongside the Tao Te Ching ( translated by Gia Fu Feng and Jane English ) , the Conference of the Birds is a pillar and a pinnacle of human poetry and spirituality. It's truly astounding and your favourite translation is truly amazing. Great video. Thank you.💯👌🎯
Is there a particular translation you might suggest for english readers?
@@afnanbogey Choose the Darbandi and Davis translation.
@@catherinemoore9534 maybe you haven't read the famous DIVAN E SHAMS of Rumi because a great scholar of Persian who knows A to Z of Persian poetry says to him everything in Persian poetry feels like child's when compared to Rumi's Divan e SHAMS..
@@zaharabanoo6338 You must not have read the poetry of Hafez if you think that
"The real treasure was the friends that we made along the way"
:))) literally
Persian Muslim mystics are so fascinating to learn and read about. Thank you for a yet again good episode!
The correct word is Iranian I don’t know why people keep on repeating Persian this perisn that
@@Claxiux because whatever you see as Iran today has been unified people since the great Cyrus and Persian empire, the Achaemenid, and after 25 centuries the core is still there. the common language of Iran is sometimes called Farsi which is Arabic form of Parsi which is Persian in western language.
@@amirb3083 No you f.. Idoit! the word Irie(Aryan) Exist before Cyrus the Median Empire call themselves Aryan the word exist in the oldest writing of Persian language(AVESTA)! even Darus the Greate call himself Aryan!!! Sassanian Call themesves King of IranShar!!
@@noshadb.e3111 If you believe you are talking factual, Talk like a civilized person. don't call the person you are talking to F.. Idiot, leave these kind of adjectives for your parents who raised you up like animal.
@@amirb3083only 58% Iranian people are Persians rest are other ethnicities which is part of Iranian society and culture. Like every indian is not aryan 😊😊😊😊
Conference of the Birds by Om is a great album. Never thought about where the name came from, nice to know
Rumi in one of his poems says : " Attar traveled through 7 cities of love while we still struggling with the first turn of one alley." Haft shah-reh eshgh raw Attar gasht Maw hanooz andar khameh yek koo-cheh-yim
Well, without Arabic words , Farsi language won’t be exited today
@@hashimalzarooni9179 You're replying with this none sense under every single comment. Yes modern Persian has some Arabic loan words which was the result of the brutal Islamic conquest of Persia and the campaign to eradicate the language. They burned any Persian book they got their hands on and oppressed the Ajams for centuries. Still, Persian culture far predates the Arabs. Cyrus the Great was laying down the first charter of human rights far before the lizard eating, camel piss drinking Arab bedouins came to prominence. Even the Arabic language is itself beholden to Persians considering that the foundational book for its grammar was written by Sibawayh who was a Persian grammarian. So in a sense without Persians, modern day Arabic wouldn't be what it is today.
@@hashimalzarooni9179 how is that related to what they said💀 And yes it would still exist without the Arabic script lmao just look at how they are writing in Tajikistan
خط عربی از خط پارسی که در انتهی دوران ساسانی ساخته شده بود تازه ساخته شده بود گرفته شد که همان خط فارسی امروزی هست برای همین است که پارسی ۴حرف از عربی بیشتر دارد@@hashimalzarooni9179
Filip, thank you so much for giving those of us with an Eurocentric education a taste of great poets like Attar. His wisdom is truly profound.
I've recently been thinking of learning Persian. I love Persian history and art. I've a knack for languages, but I'm still learning French right now, and I've always wanted to learn Russian and Japanese.
I have never seen such beautiful and comprehensive work and explanation on Persian Mysticism culture and poetry in English. So happy that this channel was introduced to me. I strongly suggest that you learn Persian since you are interested in our Poetry. The joy you will experience from reading the original words is not comparable even with the best possible translations out there. 🌸 Be in God's love and light.
This is amazing. Only today I found myself drawn again to read this great book for a third time and indeed have been listening to it in Farsi whilst following the translation. I then saw this advertised. Synchronicity or what?
A sign that you should take the journey and testify
@@alfonso201 well you could be right. I actually see true Islam as a universal religion.
@@jasontravis3568 sounds about right
@@jasontravis3568 if you understand that true religion is the progressive revelation of the reality.
@Cru6ix indeed. I'm actually saying that in other words.
One of the most provocative books on ‘being human’ that I have read multiple times. It challenges ideas of what is our ‘higher nature’. It is a challenging book to find any comfort in, and it’s wisdom seems to be in lightning the grip we have on our sure sense of self. A strange and masterful work I think.
Incredible how beautiful this poem is, leaves one speechless
I’m Persian and have read parts of this work as a kid. You nailed it with this video as always.
Well, without Arabic words , Farsi language won’t be exited today
@@hashimalzarooni9179 in fact, when the Arabs attacked Iran, they tried really hard to completely eliminate the ancient Persian language. They burned all the books and killed all the poets and scholars. One of them got away, the legendary Ferdowsi, who had spent 30 years writing “Shahnameh” in the original Persian language. That is basically the only work that remains. So to respond to your comment, Arabic got mixed into Persian when the Arabs attacked and forced it upon the nation. It didn’t help it survive.
@@8mahan8No, arabic didn't do sht
The superior person settles his mind as the universe settles the stars in the sky. By connecting the mind with the subtle origin, he calms it. Once calmed it naturally expands, and ultimately his mind becomes as vast and immeasurable as the night sky-Laozi
Iam a theatre maker...Peter Brooks Conference of the birds was how I arrived here. Thank you I loved it..
Thank you for this beautiful explanation. I have read Attar's works in the original language and I can safely say that when it comes to Sufi poetry, in terms of quantity and quality, Attar stands at the top. Rumi praises Him in a verse: هفت شهر عشق را عطار گشت ما هنوز اندر خم یک کوچه ایم Which literally means "Attar traveled the seven valleys of Love while we are at the curve of an alleyway". Attar truly was a giant of spiritual sciences of his time.
The video editing and images you chose to use in this are magnificent. I've recently begun to explore Islam and Sufism, and you are an excellent and passionate teacher. I truly appreciate your work and devotion.
Was not Geoffrey Chaucer 'the father of English literature' also deeply influenced by Attar? His Canterbury Tales has thirty pilgrims setting out on their journey. He also authored a poem called Parliament of Fowls.
Wow that's really interesting
Chaucer was indeed influenced by Attar. Love Chaucer, too. 😊
This brought tears to my eyes, stunning
This is quickly becoming a favorite channel of mine
Om’s album name after this beautiful poem is also a beautiful piece of music. Thanks for this video. I actually own comic book version of the poem. It isn’t the whole text, but an abstraction of it. Very beautifully illustrated, with spare words. I have yet to read it, but I think I will soon. My sister gave it to me as a present, since I love birds, and the hoopoe is my favorite one. Spring is getting near, and that means I’ll be able to hear its simple, yet beautiful, song soon!
The translations were quite exceptional! Looking forward to exploring Attar's work. Thanks for another great video
Yeah I really like it! It probably has to take some creative freedoms, but I think it's worth it in order to capture the poetic aspect of the original.
Points for interested readers from a Persian-speaking scholar who knows Persian literature well enough: 1- The 7 Valley in the original Persian version is mentioned as "the seven cities of love". The city of Quest, the city of love, the city of knowledge, and so on. 2- Regarding the story of Rūmī and his encounter with Attar: Rūmī was little when he was accompanying his father Bahāʼ al-Dīn Valad on the way to Konia (Eastern Rome as known by Persians). His Father was invited by Kayqubad I, the Seljuq Sultan of Rûm, and appointed as the spiritual leader or Imam of the mosque of Konia. When Attar met Roomi he said, "Soon he will set fire to all burning/burnable souls of the world". 3- Attar, regardless of his magnificent works, is not in the circle of five all-time great Persian Poets. Rūmī is. Thus I would encourage people who are interested in Attar to learn also about the other four giants: Nezami, Ferdowsi, Saadi, and Hafiz.
Persian mystics! Thank you, may we live up to them... Theosis or awakening is our potentiality. “Here comes a sea, followed by an ocean!” Reportedly, what Attar said when he saw Rumi behind his father.
I love that quote! I've also heard it attributed to Ibn 'Arabi. And thank you so much for the generous Super Thanks!
@@LetsTalkReligion Yeah, it's a great one. I think an even more accurate translation may be, "Here comes the sea, followed by the Ocean." Thank you for your beautiful work
Iranian*
Persian?
@@ThisUnifiedField The 'persian' mystics will feel offended by you tagging them as Persian instead of islamic because what they were was not because of ethnicity but because of faith and religion and in Islam they are called auliyaAllah (friends of Allah) all of these mystics use the word auliyaAllah while referring to other mystics that is why you will find Sufis all over the world from Africa to china and from Russia to Indonesia even india is dotted with innumerable Sufi shrines..
so glad you did this one! this is one of my favs
This video inspired me to pick up Attar's The Conference of the Birds (the exact one you recommended). I started reading it last week and I love it! It's so beautiful! Also, it's very informative when it comes to Sufism.
As a Persian we love Attar ! His deep poetry and mystic works are inspiration to us all …. ❤️❤️❤️❤️
I don’t know what it means when you say we Persians. Persian is a language. Attar’s lesson is lost on you as you hold on to your being Persian.
He was Sunni
You have lost everything these auliyaAllah aka Sufis stood for you are today nothing but wannabe European copycats who reject Allah and worship ethnicity, nation and Europe..lol
@@saliksayyar9793 Your are right, Persian is a language, but a person who speaks Persian language is also called Persian. Most people in Iran, Afghanistan, and Tajikistan speak in Persian language and are called Persian.
@@saliksayyar9793 what are you talkig about? each time we read his work! he is alive with us through his word?
Thank you so much!!! This had being my favorite of your conferences. Amazing! It totally inspired me into looking for it.
I’m so happy you’ve made a video about this masterpiece, I haven’t watched the video yet but I have already given a thumbs up 👍🏼
Wow!!! Just amazing! Thank you so much for this intro to Attar!
This takes me back 40 years when I was just 20 years old and the amazing journey I experienced whilst reading The Conference Of The Birds. I read and reread it and nothing else for more than a month. Then it was extremely difficult finding a journey such as this again. Thank you for this great video topic.
Incredible, thank you for bringing this up❤❤❤
Thank you very much for this very interesting video. I had no idea about Attar nor this poem. And I love how you read the text, really emmersing youself and us into it. I must order this translation right now!
Always love your videos, especially the ones related to Sufism...❤
Thanks for making this episode!
I must admit as a Sunni Muslim, Whose ancestors learned Islam from the tradition of Sufi peers, your channel has been absolutely enlightening. I did know the names, but not stories. I have seen pictures of Simourgh and even copied it as a child but never knew how fascinating the properties were. Thank you for reintroducing my own tradition to me. May Allah bless you from His bounty.
Well, without Arabic words , Farsi language won’t be exited today
@@hashimalzarooni9179 You're replying with this none sense under every single comment. Yes modern Persian has some Arabic loan words which was the result of the brutal Islamic conquest of Persia and the campaign to eradicate the language. Still, Persian culture far predates the Arabs. Cyrus the Great was laying down the first charter of human rights far before the lizard eating, camel piss drinking Arab bedouins came to prominence. Even the Arabic language is itself beholden to Persians considering that the foundational book for its grammar was written by Sibawayh who was a Persian grammarian. Without Persians, modern day Arabic wouldn't be what it is today.
Thank You Mr. Holm. I bought the book some time ago but I was having trouble getting into it. Thanks to your Masterful Presentation in this video I am understanding it better now. Thanks Again.
Wonderful summary, wonderful presentation. Thoroughly enjoyed it .
Thank you for this splendid introduction to this gorgeously-conceived work.💐
Very well explained. Obviously such episodes need a lot of research. Thank you for this great work 💗
never commented on your videos before... but thank you for your work and the way you keep it always interesting. always a pleasure to listen to your wonderful explanations
Thank you for covering the Sufis so closely, it is a school of thought very close to my heart and one that has helped me see the light in the darkest of times… look forward to hearing more about them from you in the future. Peace from England
Wonderful video! Thank you. I will be reading the poem in April 💕
This was fantastic, thank you for sharing your knowledge of the sufi classics with us. Looking forward to watching more 😀 have a great day!
Indeed it was fascinating learning about Attar. It was an awakening for me. Thank you for your easy listening comments.
I’m so glad your making these videos😊
A really important poem to me. A pleasure to hear it explained so well (I never realised the title was directly referring to Suryat an-Aml). Thank you. (Nice one for mentioning the Afkham Darbandi/Dick Davis translation, the one I would ALWAYS recommend).
what a great and diverse series of events and persons ( i now see it ) brought me to this beautiful work of writing today, and to your presentation. suffice it to say, it was all divinely orchestrated. So deeply appreciated.
Beautifully presented. Thank you.
That was amazing, thank you so much! Aside from the superb content, I always appreciate and enjoy the artworks you choose, combined with the music, they create a beautiful and sweet aesthetically-pleasing environment. Hope you consider making a video about Hafiz one day.
Thank you for your incredible work!
No wonder why Fariddudin's poetry goes so deep. Thank you for this great video. 💜💙💚💛🧡❤💜
I am amazed with your work and knowledge, I do understand Persian and Attar books are in my list now moving forward!! Thank you again for amazing work
I have this translation and it is one of my favourite books. Thank you for your coverage of it - very interesting and sensitively done.
Thank you for sharing things that you love with all of us.
I had picked up this book last year and just finished it, what a magnificent gem it is!
This is my first meeting with Attar and the overwhelming beauty of his imagery. With a wonderful guide who has opened my eyes to a new world. Thank you.
Amazing! 😍 As always... Keep it up!!
Glorious! I notice that most of the ''Let's Talk Religion'' vids seem to go from my ''watch latter'' list (I'm short on time these days) to my cache of ''Favorites'' . The choice of topics, the art work. analysis, and the length of the presentation is perfection. We would all like to believe that all the paths of liberation and wisdom traditions teach essentially the same humanizing truths. These vids are diamonds that refract the light such that such a hope seems possible!
Beautiful. Thanks for sharing knowledge. I will definitely get this translation that you recommend 👌🏾💕 Much love, Peace
OMG 🤯🤯🤯 This is totally insane...I just imagined & now I'm loosing my mind 😭... I wanna such a companion I wanna such a guide I wanna to reach out there I wanna to be that light ✨🥺
An amazing work. Thank you.
Your pronounciations are so perfect and sooo sweet to hear! Thank you for that long second A in Attar 😍
I've loved this book for decades. The Mantiq is a must read IMO!!!
One of your finest and most inspiring presentations. Thank you 🙏🏼
There's a song by a band called mewithoutYou called "King Beetle on the Coconut Estate" which is very clearly adapted from the story about the moths and the flame. It's one of my favorite (and I think one of the most beautiful) songs ever written.
This was a superb video and thank you for your hard work on it. It has inspired me into further investigation of the work....thank you. 🙏
Your channel is the best. The subject matter is always well researched and dealt with tastefully with passionately. Thank you for sharing your knowledge.
Thank you so much for this ‘conference’.
Great teaching Brother Holm. Enjoyed it!
Okay. I’ve been tuning in for over a year and became a HUGE fan of Rumi thanks to Filip’s piece on this great poet. But THIS one on Attar… yasssss. 👑RULES.👑 Thank you always Filip, AWESOME research with references. Thanks for plugging Dr Angela Puca too, she is ON itttt. Much appreciation❣️👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾
Great job done by you thanks!
Thank you - lovely present and art!
Perfect mate. You did a great job. Amazed by your performance as a Persian speaker. Thank you millions
Amazing interpretation, it is indeed a turning point in Persian poetry.
Very beautiful analogy. Thanks for sharing. Keep up the good work
I appreciate your open mind and effort
Beautiful. Thank you for sharing ❤
Fantastic video keep it up your doing amazing job
Oh my God. I am really touched. Thank you for bringing this out.
Excellent 🙏 your channel is great very informative and great way of explaining difficult ideas and making it simple to understand. Thank you
Excellent. I have always loved this book from many decades ago when I began my Sufi Journey. Alhamdulillah.
Indeed we are in a cage like a bird and death will set us free. Beautiful rendition of the great work that i had only heard about but never read. Profound thanks for narrating it so beautifully and bringing it to us.
Thank you so much, just ordered it online, be blessed and be a blessing.
I hadn't realised I'd been waiting for this. Thanks, Filip.
Thank you Conor!
Really appriciate your work, and love the way you explain it . The mystical knowledge that lighten up heart and mind ❤...
Love your work. Thank you.
Excellent video. Very interesting, informative and worthwhile video. A must see video for everyone.
As always, thank you for your teaching. I will look for that translation.🙏
I am an occasional viewer of yours but this was really immersive. I almost forgot my love for poetry. ❤
I remember reading it while I was 19,it really changed my points of view and perspective
Beautiful. Thank you, greetings from Serbia ❤️
that was breath taking very helping to hear. thanks amazing video.
I've been blessed witht the Persian language. Persian literature is a hidden gem that very few (even Persian speaking people) truly find and enjoy.
Well, without Arabic words , Farsi language won’t be exited today
@@hashimalzarooni9179 You're replying with this none sense under every single comment. Yes modern Persian has some Arabic loan words which was the result of the brutal Islamic conquest of Persia and the campaign to eradicate the language. Still, Persian culture far predates the Arabs. Cyrus the Great was laying down the first charter of human rights far before the lizard eating, camel piss drinking Arab bedouins came to prominence. Even the Arabic language is itself beholden to Persians considering that the foundational book for its grammar was written by Sibawayh who was a Persian grammarian. Without Persians, modern day Arabic wouldn't be what it is today.
Thank you !! Another great episode.