The Conference of the Birds, pgs. 166-213 Summary

The hoopoe describes seven valleys that lie ahead. The "Valley of the Quest" takes years to pass through, striving, grieving, empty-handed, purifying the heart and leaving everything behind. Then one's heart blazes with the Lord's light and expands and one rushes to drink God and enter oblivion. When the gate opens, both blasphemy and faith are gone. Stories: God breathes into Adam and orders the angels to bow to him; Eblis (the devil) refuses and for his curiosity is required forever to wear a ring of treachery. As Shebli dies, he mourns because he covets God' curse on Eblis. Once someone sees Majnoun in pain searching for Leili in the dust. Yousef of Hamadan teaches that every atom is a Jacob searching for Joseph; even if the goal seems concealed, one...