Farid ud-Din Attar is the author of the breathtakingly epic poem The Conference of the Birds. This poem follows the classic tale of mythology. In a conference, all the birds decide that they need a king to rule over them who is wiser than they. They ask the wisest among them -- the hoopoe -- to suggest someone. Instead of wanting the position for himself, he directs the birds on a quest to find the mystical Simorgh, a legendary bird which has never been seen. In their quest, the birds must past through seven valleys which hold their own trials which are designed to develop certain attributes in their conquerors: open-mindedness, love, surrender, peace, unity, appreciation of beauty, and transcendence. The few birds who persist and accomplish each of these tasks finally arrive at the land of the Simorgh. As the hoopoe directs, they glance a pool where they see their own reflections staring back at them. At last they understand. The Simorgh was a symbol for the divinity within each of them. Any of them is qualified to lead himself, provided he is committed to learning virtue.
This story is fascinating when analyzed within the context of renowned historian and mythologist Joseph Campbell's writing. He posits in his book The Hero with a Thousand Faces that all of mythology -- every story ever told -- is essentially the same. Step by step, the birds follow the hero's journey. First they must accept the quest upon the advice of the sage -- the hoopoe. Next the cross the threshold into the first valley. Aided by the help of a guide, they encounter a series of trials along their quest. Upon successfully passing the tests, they are rewarded with enlightenment. They have become the saviors of their own stories. Now they are qualified to live as heroes, without submitting their will to a leader because they recognize and honor the divine unity which exists between all life.
As is common with ancient literature, Attar's poem is symbolic. He's trying to teach his readers an eternal truth: you must be your own hero. This is not to be interpreted to mean that people are not deserving of honor of submission. In fact, the hero birds arrive at the opposite conclusion. They realize that everyone has an equal shot at enlightenment, so they shouldn't point fingers or name names. Instead they are taught to focus their attention inward, to purify themselves by fire so that they may be considered blameless. These ancient teaching still hold true today and can be seen reflected in every story ever told.
