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Passages similar to: The Conference of the Birds — Question of the Sixteenth Bird
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The Conference of the Birds
Question of the Sixteenth Bird (1)
Another bird asked the Hoopoe: 'O you who are our leader, is boldness permitted in approaching the Majesty of the Simurgh? It seems to me that he who has courage is freed from many fears. Since you are such, scatter pearls of wisdom and tell us the secret.' 'Everyone who is worthy,' replied the Hoopoe, 'is the Mahram of the secret of divinity, and it is good to be bold if one has intelligence of the secrets of God. But how can one who possesses the secrets impart them to another? Can a camel-driver of the desert be the confidant of a king? Still, if one is actuated by pure love a little boldness is permitted. He who is on the path of self-knowledge should know when to be bold, and not let himself die from lack of effort. 'A true dervish will be bold and confident from the true hope he experiences. He who is fearless from love sees the Lord in all. His boldness then is good and laudable, because he is an idiot of love, on fire.'
The Masnavi
Moses and the Shepherd (Summary)
Next follows an anecdote of Bilkis, Queen of Sheba, whose reason was enlightened by the counsels of the Hoopoo sent to her by King Solomon. Outward...