The Simurgh and the Thirty Birds

Once upon a time, all the birds of the world came together. "Every country has a king. Why don't we?" they said. The wise hoopoe, with feathers on its head like a beautiful crown, stepped forward: "We do have a king. His name is the Simurgh. He lives beyond Mount Qaf. But the road is very long and very hard."

The birds were excited: "Let's go!" But when the time came to set off, one by one they began to make excuses. The nightingale said, "I can't leave my rose." The parrot said, "I have a golden cage." The duck said, "I can't leave the water." The falcon said, "I live on my king's wrist." The hoopoe patiently told each of them a story and gave them all courage. At last, thousands of birds set off.

Before them lay seven valleys. In the Valley of the Quest they learned to leave everything behind. In the Valley of Love their hearts grew warm. In the Valley of Understanding each one saw its own path. In the valleys after that they learned patience, unity and wonder. The road was very long. Some birds grew tired and turned back; some stayed behind in other places.

In the end only thirty birds reached Mount Qaf. Their feathers had fallen out and their wings were weary, but their eyes were shining. At the gate a guardian met them. "We have come to see the Simurgh," they said. The gate opened, and they looked into a lake full of light.

When they looked for the Simurgh on the surface of the lake, they saw only their own reflections. Thirty birds... In Persian, "si" means thirty and "murgh" means bird. Simurgh: thirty birds! They understood that the king they had been looking for was not far away, but in their own hearts, which had travelled together.

This story tells us: the journey changes us. Hearts that walk together, that are patient and never give up, find the beauty they are looking for inside themselves in the end.