Tireless Persistence and Melted Obstacles

In Chapter 47, Poem 54 of the Mokhtar Nameh, Attar utilizes the symbol of the candle (شمع) and wax (موم) to illustrate the necessity of relentless dedication and spiritual resilience in the path of divine love.

Key aspects of this concept include:

• Renewing the Spiritual Struggle: Attar advises that if the seeker finds themselves lacking spiritual intoxication (being 'not drunk'), they must actively seek and embrace the painful longing or 'hangover' (khomar) of love anew rather than falling into complacency.
• The Softening of Mystical Mysteries: The 'mystery' of divine love is initially hard and inaccessible. To unlock or soften this mystery, the seeker's heart must melt and become receptive like heated wax (mum).
• The Candle as a Symbol of Regeneration: If the spiritual secret is not immediately grasped or softened, the lover must mimic the candle's constant renewal. Just as a candle burns down and must be ...