The First 3 Valleys

As we journey on the 7 Valleys in Conference of the Birds as a summary of the journeys taken throughout the book, I feel it necessary to capture the essence of the first 3 Valleys which we have read together. It was a nice and cosy session yesterday, Alhamdulillah.

Valley of the Quest

"He will ask of his cup-bearer a draught of wine, and when he has drunk it nothing else will matter except the pursuit of his true aim. Then he will no longer fear the dragons, the guardians of the door, which seek to devour him."

Valley of Love

"He who undertakes this journey should have a thousand hearts so that he can sacrifice one at every moment."

Valley of Understanding

"Understanding, for each traveller, is enduring; but knowledge is temporary.

There are different ways of crossing this Valley, and all birds do not fly alike. Understanding can be arrived at variously - some have found the Mihrab, others the idol.

When the sun of understanding brightens this road, each receives light according to his merit and he finds the degree assigned to him in the understanding of truth.

He who is striving will be able to see the almond in its hard shell.

In each atom he will see the whole; he will ponder over thousands of bright secrets"

... Conference of the Birds, Farid ud-Din Attar