We Listened the Conference of the Birds from Prof. Dr. Ekrem Demirli

We Listened the Conference of the Birds from Prof. Dr. Ekrem Demirli

Under the guidance of Prof. Dr. Ekrem Demirli, we evaluated the Conference of the Birds by Farid ud-Din Attar which we had recommended our employees and teachers to read at the end of the last academic year.

Written in the 12th century, the Conference of the Birds has influenced many sufi people. To put it briefly, the following story told in this work is that the birds gather among themselves and state that there is no country without a sultan and that order cannot be established in such a country. Eurasian hoopoe, the private and post carrier bird of the prophet Solomon, is among them and represents the master and says that he will guide them in this regard. They gather under the leadership of Eurasian hoopoe. But when they realize that the road is far and troublesome, the nightingale, parrot, peacock, goose, partridge, huma bird, falcon, heron, owl and some other birds want to give up the journey by making excuses. Eurasian hoopoe persuades them by answering all of them. In the end, all the birds set off under the guide of the Eurasian hoopoe. Thousands of birds, exhausted and tired because of the journey, ask Eurasian hoopoe to eliminate their doubts. Eurasian hoopoe answers each of their questions and objections. He explains that there are seven valleys called "quest, love, knowledge, detachment, unity, wonderment, and poverty and annihilation" in front of them and as they pass these valleys, they will reach their sultan, Simurg. Only thirty of the birds that set off again, sick and tired, cross these valleys and reach a great dervish lodge. When a post carrier comes and realizes that they are asking about the Simurg, he puts a piece of paper in front of them and tells them to read. Birds are surprised to see that all they have done is written on the papers. Meanwhile, the Simurg appears. But the simurg they see is no other being than themselves. They see themselves in Simurg and the simurg in themselves and get astonished. In the meantime, a voice is heard: “You came here thirty birds, thirty birds appeared. If you had come more or less, you would have appeared as many as you were. Here is a mirror." As a result, all of them become mortal in simurg. There is no longer a road, a passenger or a guide. The shadow disappears under the sun. The thirty birds understand that the bird they have been looking for is themselves.

Mr. Demirli, who analyzed the story from a mystical perspective, drew attention to the fact that the states experienced by a person during the life journey are reflected by Farid ud-Din Attar. He emphasized that we encounter birds that give up on their journey several times in our daily life. Mr. Demirli added that “Our friend who is tired of difficulties and our students who do not study their classes with the presumption of failure are like the birds in the Conference of the Birds. However, only those who struggle and complete their journey are those who win the reward. Mr. Demirli explained the valleys of quest, love, knowledge, detachment, unity, wonderment, and poverty and annihilation and interpreted the sufi meaning represented by each valley. One of the rare examples of our ancient literature is discussed in the event, which ended with the answers given by Prof. Dr. Ekrem Demirli to the questions of the participants.