THE Journey Begins. Allah says in Quran, “You want to find me; I am closer to you than your Jugular vein.” In Hadees attributed to Holy Prophet, Allah says, “I cannot fit into the Heaven and Earth, but the heart of my loving servant suffices me,” Hoppo bird says, “Let’s begin the journey.” The birds are very excited. They say let us go right now. Hoppo bird says, “The journey is long and the sea is deep and one must have a heart of lion to undertake it because there are seven valleys we have to cross and in every valley you will encounter all kind of dangers and tribulations.”
One by one the birds start making their excuses. Their arguments reflect the story of our lives. ‘What bird am I and what is my excuse for not answering the call of spiritual yearning and not undertaking this journey, because it is so inconvenient.’ Hajveri says, “The spiritual path is hard to travel except those who are created for the purpose.” In the interchange in which the Hoppo deals with each bird, Attar exposes the uselessness of ecstatic mystics, who intoxicate themselves with yearnings, indulge in ecstatic experience, but are out of touch with human life.
The passionate Nightingale came forward and spoke so eloquently, “I know the secrets of love, throughout the night, I give my love call. I myself teach the secrets of love and it is my song, which is the lament of the mystics. I set the rose in motion and move the heart of lovers. When I am long bereft of my love (rose) I lament unceasingly. When the Rose returns to the world in summer, I open my heart to joy. My secrets are not known to all, but the rose knows them. I think of nothing, but the rose. I wish nothing, but my Ruby Rose. To reach the Simourgh is beyond me. The love of the Rose is enough for the Nightingale. It is for me that she flowers with a hundred petals. Can the nightingale live but one night without the beloved?”
Hoppo bird says,” Oh you are so dazzled by the things exterior. Don’t you realize that love of the rose has thorns? Forsake the rose and blush for yourself, for the rose blossoms every spring, and then is no more. Buddha says, “Forsake pleasure so that you may attain bliss.” Rumi says, “A love sick nightingale amongst the owls, you caught the scent of roses and just flew to the rose garden.” “The patience shone by the rose to the thorn is what keeps it fragrant.” That which God said to the rose and which made it laugh into full blown beauty God said that to my heart and made it hundred times more beautiful.”
The Peacock moving its feathers and plumage comes like a shy bride and says, “The Painter of the world has given me beautiful colours with the brush. This earthly paradise is enough for me. I have no need to make that journey and meet the Simourgh. Hoppo replies, “The palace of that King is far more superior than the earthly paradise. It is the habitation of the souls. The most High is like a vast ocean and what you have here is a little drop.” Rumi says, “Sell and buy at once, where you will find a market like this, for one little seed the entire rose garden, for one little drop the entire ocean. Where you will find a customer like God who pays in gold, accepts your counterfeit coins and gives in return a spiritual spring so delicious that even sugar is jealous of its sweetness.”
Then comes the sparrow and says,” You know I would love to go but my body is feeble and not fit for this enterprise.” She begins to tremble like a candle flame. Hoopo replies, “I am not deceived by your artful pleas. Even in your humility, you are showing so much arrogance. Shut your mouth sew your lips together and step ahead, if you burn you will burn with the others.” Falcon says, “I am already having good time on this earth, I sit on the wrist of the King and royal hand gives me morsel of food for which I am so grateful. I have no need to meet the Simourgh and undertake this long and arduous journey.
Hoppo says, “Let me tell you a story. There was a King, he had a slave and the King gave him everything, beautiful clothes and silver. As the King wanted to practice archery, he would have the slave stand, put an apple on his head and then with an arrow shoot the apple. As the arrow would hit the apple, the face of the save would grow yellow with fear, but the King would feel so much pleasure. Hoppo says, “If you have golden feathers, it’s because of the yellow colour of the face of the slave and is this the way to live your life?”
What is my excuse not to undertake this journey Am I the sparrow or an owl or a Peacock. The owl says, “I love to sit in ruins, because underneath every ruin is a treasure a pot of gold, beneath every sorrow, there is joy.” Hoppo says, “Your heart is set on that pot of gold, you are an idolater, attached with the materiality of the world.” Hazart Ali reminds us, “This is never enough to satisfy your lust. If someone gave you two valleys of gold, your heart will still yearn for the third one.” Extracts from Islamic Spirituality and Mysticism (Sufism) The Path and Destination. —To be continued.
—The writer is author of various books based in Rawalpindi.
