"The Conference of the Plants", translated from the Persian copy titled "Mantegh al-Shajarah," unfolds a captivating narrative tracing Mankind's journey from Earth to the skies, unraveling a myriad of mysteries and profound revelations along the way. It's an epic tale depicting the soul's evolution, culminating in the discovery of truth through a complex and enigmatic path.
For years, I suffered in a state of darkness and agony, lacking any spiritual illumination. It felt as though I was an underground creature disconnected from the sky and sun. However, through hard work and enduring pain, I eventually came out of the depths of inner darkness and emerged into the sky of my soul. There, I witnessed a brilliant light. I could experience both profound darkness and enlightenment.
From the sky, I glanced at other disciples immersed in darkness. From there everything appeared different, as they spoke from the heart of the earth, and their words were completely contrary to what I perceived. It triggered a reflection on my own past thinking when I was in the dark and the striking disparity with my current perspective from the skies. Here, I found a profound contrast originated from the duality of the world.
In the school that I founded; a multitude of disciples passed through with varying levels of triumph. By scrutinizing the causes behind their accomplishments or disappointments, I acquired invaluable knowledge and absorbed crucial teachings.
These lessons were indescribable. The secrets to everyone’s success or failure defied expression. However, I managed to simplify the lessons without using any names. While sitting in the garden one day, I observed the distinct characteristics of each flower, plant, and tree, some were underground, some were sprouts, some were saplings, and some were fully grown. I perceived the students as seeds, enthusiastic to grow and achieve their full potential. For me, the most crucial secret of this world was that every soul is like a seed in the ground, with the capacity to attain its ultimate spiritual growth.
For that matter, using a metaphorical language of plants and the duality of light and darkness, I wrote the intricacies of growth in the universe to the extent that I had acquired. Each section contains an explanation of the psychological roleplay of the garden elements and an important lesson from the secrets of nature.
Every plant and tree in the story are a disciple trying to grow and working tirelessly towards their goals. The story reveals the challenges and mistakes made by these students, illustrating their struggles throughout. Furthermore, the story highlights the obstacles faced by the wise teacher, personified by the Walnut tree.
Every plant and tree exhibit distinctive characteristics that are also present in human beings. Even though a plant may serve as a representation of a student, it can also signify a particular trait within oneself.
The true stories from the Marefat School in this collection provide real-life lessons about the mysteries of existence.
