Welcome, dear friends, to a sacred journey through the profound and enchanting words of Hafez Shirazi, accompanied by serene ambient music. This video aims to bring peace to your heart and soul, guiding you towards the comforting embrace of the Beloved Lord God.
Hafez Shirazi, born in 1315 and passed away in 1390, is one of the most celebrated poets in Persian literature. His work, originally written in Persian, delves deeply into themes of love, spirituality, and the divine. Hafez's poetry has touched countless hearts over the centuries, and his words continue to resonate with those seeking spiritual solace and enlightenment. He is best known for his collection of ghazals, which reflect his unique ability to blend lyrical beauty with profound philosophical insights.
The poems in this video are beautifully translated by Daniel Ladinsky, whose books "I Heard God Laughing" and "The Gift" serve as the source for the verses shared here. While no translation can fully capture the exquisite mastery of Hafez’s poetry, these translations offer a bridge for English speakers to experience the divine essence of his words. Hafez's work was originally written in Persian, a language rich with expressive nuances that convey the depth of his spiritual experiences and insights.
This video was created not only to showcase the beautiful words and inspirations of Hafez Shirazi but also to bring peace and comfort to the listener. The selected poems encourage the reader and listener to look within and connect with the Beloved Lord God for solace in this world and the world of the soul.
Here are the featured poems, offering an invitation to divine love and reflection:
You have been invited to meet the Friend.
No one can resist a Divine Invitation.
That narrows down all our choices to just two:
We can come to God dressed for dancing, or,
We can be carried on a stretcher to God’s ward.
Hafez, why carry a load of books upon your back
climbing this mountain; when tonight,
just a few thoughts of God will light the holy fire?
Awake awhile.
Just one true moment of Love
will last for days.
Rest all your elaborate plans and tactics for knowing Him,
for they are all just frozen spring buds far [off],
so far from Summer’s Divine Gold.
Awake, my dear. Be kind to your sleeping heart.
Take it out into the vast fields of Light and let it breathe.
Say “Love, give me back my wings,
Lift me, lift me nearer.”
Dance, dervish, dance -
Bring the Face of God before you.
Only Love can lift the heart up so high that
its True Color is restored by the Sun!
See Him near and clapping -
that Perfect One who fathers Divine Rhythm.
O dance, dervish, dance - and know
you bring your Master happiness
whenever you smile.
Last night, so many tears took flight because of Joy that
the sky got crowded and complained
when I discovered God hiding again in my heart,
and I could not cease to celebrate.
O dance, Hafez, dance -
Write a thousand luminous secrets upon the wall of Existence
so that even a blind man will know where we are,
and join us in this Love!
Dance, dervish, dance. - bring the Face,
O bring the Face of your Beloved before you!
What happens when your soul begins to awake in this world,
to our deep need to love and serve the Friend?
O, the Beloved will send you one of His wonderful,
wild companions, like Hafez.
When the mind is consumed with remembrance of Him,
Something divine happens to the Heart
That shapes the hand and tongue and eye into the word, “Love”.
Through these verses, Hafez encourages us to awaken our hearts, embrace divine love, and celebrate the presence of the Beloved within us. Each poem is a reminder of the intimate connection we share with the divine, urging us to dance, rejoice, and find solace in the eternal love of the Spirit Father.
Thank you for joining us in this soulful experience. May the words of Hafez bring you closer to the Divine, filling your heart with love, peace, and joy. Feel free to share your thoughts and reflections in the comments below. If these verses touch your spirit, consider exploring more of Hafez’s work through Daniel Ladinsky's books, "I Heard God Laughing" and "The Gift." Though no translation can fully do justice to the mastery of Hafez's poetry, Ladinsky's translations offer a glimpse into the divine musk of Hafez Shirazi's work, allowing English speakers to savor the beauty and depth of his poetry.
May you be blessed with the divine light and love that Hafez so beautifully illuminates in his poetry.