The Gift by Hafiz Summary and Reviews
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Book Reviews of The Gift
Book Review: Beyond Rumi
Summary: 5 Stars
Hafiz has a gift for finding the Cosmic in the beauties of nature and the most delicate of human emotions -- and also in very mundane, ordinary-life circumstances. Sometimes he presents it all in terms as esoteric as Rumi, and sometimes with rich, earthy humor all his own; but always with a grace that delights both eye and ear. This book is truly A Gift....(pun intended).Book Review: Blessed Ruin: Lessons on the Stages of Love
Summary: 5 Stars
Having already been enchanted by Daniel Ladinsky's previous rendererings of Hafiz in _I Heard God Laughing_ and _The Subject Tonight is Love_, Ladinsky's present effort is worthy of no less acclaim. In fact, his choices this time from the _Divan_(250 poems) bring home with exquisite precision that Hafiz, the Perfect Master is in fact, a Master of Love. The reader gets the clear message in Ladinsky's portrait that Hafiz has intermalized to perfection his teacher's (Mohammad Attar)lessons on the manifold levels of love and its demands: "I saw it was Hafiz who wrote all your notes of sadness, But also etched and gave you Every ecstatic wince of joy your face, body and heart has ever known." (p.38). This is no "New Age" nonsense, which at its worst hails the light and avoids the shadow, Hafiz (though seducing the beginner lover by his promises of sweetness and tenderness, that God could actually "become an infant in your arms"[p,56]) cautions that he "hold's the Lion's Paw whenever I dance."(p.57). Western culture has not received such lessons on divine love since Jesus and Plato, and unfortunately, the fresh images of their teachings on love have all been but lost to humanity, save a small remnant of sketches. Ladinsky's Hafiz both assures and challenges the seeker because any fully-alive being with such capacity for loving as Hafiz dwarfs our puny notions of western romantic love without shaming or condemning it. Only encouraging like a true teacher with compassion would: "You ask for a few words of comfort and guidance. I quickly kneel at your side offering you this whole book . . . Here's a rope, tie it around me, Hafiz will be your companion for life."(p83). Hafiz's language of love utilized the metaphor of his time and culture as Jesus incorporated the images of parable. Ladinsky courageously steps out of line (as surely did Hafiz) and takes the risk to be mundane without being irreverent when describing the labyrinth that is the heart: "There are different wells within your heart. Some fill with each good rain. Others are far too deep for that." (p76) Ladinsky's Hafiz teaches us of a divine being who walks among and talks with and celebrates his creation; yet challenges it to stretch beyond its boundaries of self-interest: " I want both of us to start talking about this great love. As if you , I, and the sun were all married and living in a tiny room, helping each other to cook, do the wash, weave and sew, care for our beautiful animals."(p.180). Ladinsky's fine portrait of this 14th century Perfect Master gives the West the certain bugal cry that God is not dead, but it is we who are dead to God. The success of this book will measure how many of us are indeed alive here, and how many are really interested in the more mature lessons of loving.Book Review: Close but not perfect
Summary: 3 Stars
While I think that Ladinsky has done a commendable job translating much of the essence of these poems, it is clear that he wanted to "Christ" -ify the message. References to "God" and "Christ" or Jesus are probably not appropriate translations. While I do not doubt that Hafez probably reached a point where he transcended common distinctions between religions, he was a Muslim and there are issues about using "God" as a translation for Allah and references to Jesus as a diety run against the current of monotheism.
There is no need to present the poems in a way that would make them seem Christian. Most Christians can appreciate them for what they are as songs to Allah. Just as anyone can appreciate the beauty of the Psalms or even Shakespeare's sonnets.
Dont get me wrong, I do enjoy Ladinsky's work and it does persent Hafez in a an attractive accessible manner. I just feel that presenting them with the Christian slant is distracting where it needn't be.
Certainly you should add this to your collection especially for the casual enjoyer. For serious access to Hafez, this should be supplemented with more serious works.
Book Review: Come dance by the grave of the Saint
Summary: 5 Stars
Hafiz came into his spritual awakening by the grave of a saint. He leaves us another marker to stand vigil by and welcome the Angel Gabriel into our lives. Time spent with Hafiz is like a dance with the beloved in the fragrance of roses in the garden supreme. If you have a heart that sees do not miss this party and bring your cup for there is wine to spare.Book Review: Come! Drink the Gift of Hafiz!
Summary: 5 Stars
The heart of the 14th century Perfect Master, Hafiz, shows us how we could-why we should, TRULY live these wondrous, desolate, madcap 21st century lives of ours.Ladinsky's Hafiz is a brightest jewel. In reading this third volume I find still yet more exquisite fresh breezes and the kindest of possible human gestures. There is not a dry eye in any room of my house.
If I could read Hafiz in Persian, of course I would. I've read other English versions, but it is Ladinsky's translations/renditions/distillations, of what must be the essence of Hafiz, that rains music in my heart and deeply stirs this soul's longing. Cheers!