Collection at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York. Folio from an illustrated manuscript dated c.1600. Painting by Habiballah of Sava (active ca. 1590–1610), in ink, opaque watercolor, gold, and silver on paper.
“The home we seek is in eternity;
The Truth we seek is like a shoreless sea,
Of which your paradise is but a drop.
This ocean can be yours;
why should you stop
Beguiled by dreams of evanescent dew?
The secrets of the sun are yours,
but you
Content yourself with motes trapped in its beams.
Turn to what truly lives,
reject what seems --
Which matters more, the body or the soul?
Be whole: desire and journey to the Whole.”
*
Farid ud-Din Attar, From 'The Conference of the Birds'
Hafiz Faces of Love and Persian Poets
13 members
Description
The subject tonight is Love
And for tomorrow night as well,
As a matter of fact
I know of no better topic
For us to discuss
Until we all
Die!
The Conference of the Birds
by Nada Jung
May 16, 2021
Painting by Habiballah of Sava (active ca. 1590–1610), in ink, opaque watercolor, gold, and silver on paper.
“The home we seek is in eternity;
The Truth we seek is like a shoreless sea,
Of which your paradise is but a drop.
This ocean can be yours;
why should you stop
Beguiled by dreams of evanescent dew?
The secrets of the sun are yours,
but you
Content yourself with motes trapped in its beams.
Turn to what truly lives,
reject what seems --
Which matters more, the body or the soul?
Be whole: desire and journey to the Whole.”
*
Farid ud-Din Attar, From 'The Conference of the Birds'