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Conference Of The Birds
 
 
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Conference Of The Birds (Hardcover)

by Farid Attar (Author) "Dear hoopoe, welcome! You will be our guide; ..." (more)
4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (14 customer reviews)
List Price: CDN$ 24.95
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Product Description

From Amazon.co.uk

Like "Rumi" and "Hafiz", the name "Attar" conjures up images of passionate attraction to the divine. A Persian Sufi of the 12th century, Attar's masterpiece is the Conference of the Birds, an epic allegory of the seeker's journey to God. When all the birds of the world convene and determine that they lack a king, one bird stands forth and offers to lead them to a great and mighty monarch. Initially excited, each bird falters in turn, whereupon their leader admonishes them with well-targeted parables. These pithy tales are the delight of this four-and-a-half thousand line poem, translated deftly into rhymed couplets. What is your excuse for not seeking God--your life is fine already, you prefer material pleasure, you aren't holy enough, you have pride, lack courage or are burdened with responsibility? Attar has an answer to encourage you on the path. And when you get to the promised land, who is the king that you will find? It may not be who you would expect, but you must make the journey to see. --Brian Bruya --This text refers to the Paperback edition.


Product Description

This 12th century Persian poet's work tells of the journey of the birds to visit King Simorgh. Their journey is an allegory of the soul's search for unity with the divine. Sufic belief is that in such unity the distinctions between self and the divine fall away. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
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Customer Reviews

14 Reviews
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Average Customer Review
4.6 out of 5 stars (14 customer reviews)
 
 
 
 
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5.0 out of 5 stars A good story about discovering oneself, Mar 8 2003
By Denis Benchimol Minev "Amazonia" (Manaus, Amazonas, Brazil) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Penguin Classics Conference Of The Birds (Paperback)
This book is about birds who set out on a voyage to find G'd (Simorgh). Using a number of parables and metaphors, the author uses the voyage as a process of self discovery. In the voyage, many birds fall by the wayside, while their leader questions them why they are giving up; these questions are the same questions, in theory, everyone should be asking themselves.

The translation is very good, though sometimes I questioned the fidelity of it, since it was rhymed in Persian and the author made it rhyme in English as well.

As a comparison, Paulo Coelho's The Alchemist has some similar lessons (such as seeking oneself), but Farid's work is much more subtle and interesting from the point of view of allegories and symbolism. Of course, in the end there is a surprise in both, but I will leave it to the reader to find out.

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2.0 out of 5 stars Difficult to read owing to the need for rhymes, Jan 16 2003
By John Wiegley (San Francisco, CA United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   
This review is from: Penguin Classics Conference Of The Birds (Paperback)
I have been a reader of this text for years, typically the C.S. Nott translation (prose style).
In comparison, I find this text quite difficult to "get into", what with the problem of
rhyming Persian poetry in English. In Persian, the majority of words rhyme, either in
their dominant vowels or their endings, because of the way the language is
constructed. Since English does not have this, there are far fewer rhymes available,
and so trying to duplicate the Persian leads to either changes in the meaning, or
changes in the phraseology. For those who want to read the insights contained in
this book, I highly recommend a prose translation.
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5.0 out of 5 stars Reaching to oneself, Jan 12 2003
By Akhtar Wasim Dar - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   
This review is from: Penguin Classics Conference Of The Birds (Paperback)
Fariduddin Attat is a wonderful commentator of sufi thought. In this epic poem of self actualization and self realization he reachs and touches the essence of sufic thought. The beautiful thought classically woven in the form of poetry by Attar in such a manner that one enjoys the form and contents equally.

In a very subtle way another book"Journey to the East" by great German novelist Hermann Hesse is a reflection on this poem, specially when thirty birds reaching destination find that Simrogh was nobody but themselves.

This is what its all about reaching to onself but not just like that, but through quest. This is a book very highly recomended for reading.

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 		 Most recent customer reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars Essencial read for muslims and others
This book is concentrated psychological sufi insight beyond our simple western conceptions about poetry. Read more
Published on Nov 8 2001

4.0 out of 5 stars Excellent Translation, worth the read
Mr. Davis' translation of Attar's masterpiece is indeed very good and as it has the cachet of appearing in the Penguin series I hope that it will lead more Westerners to take... Read more
Published on Aug 23 2001 by Thomas F. Ogara

4.0 out of 5 stars Worth reading
An enjoyable read. Having no knowledge of the language in which the original was written, it's impossible to tell how true to the original the translation is, but I found this... Read more
Published on May 18 2001

5.0 out of 5 stars Do you really want to go here?
I can't remember how many years it has been since I read the sufi tale. I was a young man in college trying to enhance my search for the "truth". Read more
Published on Sep 16 2000 by Michael J.Trangaris

5.0 out of 5 stars Sublime
Conference of the Birds as a poem is spectacular; as an allegory for any seeker of the Divine, it is sublime. Read more
Published on Nov 5 1999

5.0 out of 5 stars I can't stop reading this book over and over again
This is simply one of the best books I have ever read. Everytime I lend it to someone, I don't see it again, I would have to buy another copy. Read more
Published on Nov 3 1999

5.0 out of 5 stars Is it enough to say I cried?
I shed tears of sorrow when I read the story of the grand Shaikh, a master of the outward and inward Islamic sciences who, tortured by the pangs of love's uncontrolable fire,... Read more
Published on Jun 10 1999

5.0 out of 5 stars A Masterpiece. Required reading for every human being
Even though I am a decendant of Farid Ud Din Attar, I can say without bias that this book is excellent. A must read, filled with many lessons and hidden analects.
Published on Mar 31 1999 by Cie S Sharp

5.0 out of 5 stars Without a doubt one of the best books written ever!
A 'must read' for anyone seeking a real understanding of the human condition.
Published on Aug 3 1998 by behrouze@aol.com

5.0 out of 5 stars A sublime allegory on the quest for human happiness
A truly exceptional book - so captivating in translation it must have been exceptional in the original Persian. Read more
Published on Jun 10 1998

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