April 14 is commemorated in Iran as the day of Attar. Farid-uddin Attar Neishabouri was the renowned poet of the 6th century AH, corresponding with 12th century AD.
In the previous episode, we said that in his opinion man should discover his inner identity to get rid of absurdities and find the path towards perfection and the Creator of the universe. We will continue the discussion in the concluding episode.
The contemporary man is wandering here and there as he is far distant from spiritual legacy of the past. Matthew Arnold, English poet of the 19th century, was of the opinion that mankind suffers from four problems which can be cured or alleviated only through paying attention to literature and poetry. He believed that man has detracted attention from the sky to the nature and the metaphysics has become the great missing of the modern and classic man. He says the second problem of man is that he has been enslaved by the making of his own hand as he sanctifies his handiwork in the place of God. The third problem, in his view, is that nature is considered as the only maintainer of his needs. The modern man even looks at his fellowmen as a segment of nature; just as an instrument to fulfill his desires. Matthew Arnold maintained that the fourth and most important problem of the modern man is that he has omitted God as an argument and has focused his attention on his own intellect.
Referring to the ideas and thoughts of great literary figures can help the modern man pass through crises. Attar is one such figure.
One of the calamities of the modern man is fear and insecurity. The modern world is generally replete with horror and angst. Pessimism toward the world around is originated in the horrible events that man himself has caused during the past century. The breakout of two World Wars with tens of millions of casualties, colossal damages to the infrastructure and gargantuan expenditure, the occurrence of regional and local conflicts and wars plus the widespread phenomenon of terrorism and colonialism created a climate of horror in most parts of the world. What helps this destructive trend linger are the illogical and frenzied actions of greedy elements both in the military-industrial and political circles.
As long as the greedy superrich and owners of military industries seek their vested interests the world will not be a comfortable place to live. Attar believes that faith is the only solution for fear and insecurity. This great Iranian poet maintains that the reality of religion is the belief in a power beyond the system of creation which administers the entire universe. Attar himself has practically covered the arduous path of reaching certainty and internal confidence as he calls on his audience to follow him in this direction. He believes that people have been distanced from authenticity and it is the age of alienation of spirituality.
The noted Iranian poet of the 12th century, Farid-uddin Attar Neishabouri, regardless of the hustle of schools and centers of power, tried to found a religious wisdom. That's why he resorts to simile and allegory to express his ideas as he considers mad people as the most perfect people since they are sincere lovers. He has properly explained the impudence and logic of the mad in Mantiq al-Tayr. When one of the birds asks the hoopoe if impudence is permitted before Simorgh (Phoenix), he answers, "Those who have attained the vast sea of lofty teachings and realities of mankind, possess a rich being and an intact thought. They are able to keep the divine secrets; thus, they have reached a meta-human and metaphysical status and can speak and hear better at the Friend's court."
Attar's aim of expressing the story of Sheikh San'an and journey of the birds in Mantiq al-Tayr is indeed the quest of oneself and visiting oneself. Attar believes that in view of awareness and reaching one's "Hidden Self" one can attain reality. He is one of the great religious preachers and prevents his readers from depending on superficial affairs of the world. However, Attar reprimands those who are content with low religious beliefs. One of the birds of this book is bittern that has an insatiable thirst like greedy people. It is narrated that this bird sits on the shore but remains thirsty as it is worried lest the sea might run out of water one day.
Attar Neishabouri refers to the reality of sea as an unstable and ever-changing phenomenon, saying that a wise man shouldn't rely on something that is not lasting. Then he says symbolically that death is the fate of the one who finds comfort in the turbulent sea. He advises us to open the eyes and look into the reality of the sea which is always in turmoil to reach the beloved.
Excessive individualism is one of the problems of the modern world. Individualism and humanism has driven man to the brink of total collapse as he considers his vested interests superior to those of others. In view of Attar, human being is multisided and can raise these sides toward perfection or decadence. Attar opines that human being shouldn't stop in any stage and should continue his movement toward the divine goals. Continuous thirst and the feeling of need for perfection cause the prime factor for the flight of spirit.
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